7 Foods That Cause High Blood Pressure
In most cases, no one knows what causes high blood pressure. What you do know is that the foods you eat have a positive or negative effect on your blood pressure.
What is hypertension?
Blood pressure is the force that pushes blood against the walls of blood vessels. The heart pumps blood into the arteries that carry blood throughout the body. In high blood pressure or hypertension, the pressure in your arteries is higher than normal. In many cases, even though the cause of high blood pressure has not been properly identified, it is well known that the foods we eat affect our blood pressure.
Our daily diet is a major contributor to high blood pressure. High blood pressure causes your arteries to harden, which is a major cause of heart disease and stroke. For example, it is a well-known fact that high sodium intake can raise your blood pressure. The American Heart Association recommends limiting your daily sodium intake to no less than 1,500 milligrams. (A teaspoon of salt contains about 2,400 milligrams of sodium.) Your body retains extra water to wash off the salt, and then added water puts extra strain on your heart and blood vessels, causing your blood pressure to rise. In addition to salt, there are several other foods that can inadvertently raise your blood pressure.
1.Dairy products:
Dairy products such as milk and cheese naturally contain sodium. Some studies have shown that cheeses such as mozzarella and enamel contain less sodium than others. Milk is also high in fat, so if you have high blood pressure, you should be more careful than low-fat or non-fat milk.
2. liquor:
Many studies show that drinking more than three glasses of alcohol can temporarily raise your blood pressure. Moreover, excessive alcohol consumption has a lasting effect on your blood pressure levels.
3. Coffee:
Caffeine, the primary stimulant of coffee, significantly raises your blood pressure. Caffeine is believed to block adenosine, a hormone responsible for dilating blood vessels and keeping blood flowing smoothly. If you have high blood pressure, you should avoid energy drinks that provide high doses of both caffeine and sugar, which can have a negative effect on your blood pressure levels.
4. Refined Sugar:
Excess sugar causes excess fat to build up and fat to build up in the body. Weight gain and obesity are the leading causes of hypertension. This excess fat, especially around the arteries around your abdomen, is not flexible and can cause high blood pressure.
5. Frozen Fish and Seafood:
Although seafood is considered healthy meat, it may contain more sodium. For example, fresh shrimp are high in sodium. Similarly, frozen fish is often kept in a brine solution for a long time. If you have high blood pressure, it is best to avoid those foods.
6. Pork, Red meat, and processed meat:
Pork and red meat contain large amounts of fat, which builds up in the body and puts extra strain on your blood vessels. Also, processed meats, such as ham or bacon, often use salt to prolong life and increase flavor, which in turn increases their sodium content.
7. Pickles:
Your favorite pickles secretly increase your blood pressure. Pickles contain large amounts of salt and are used as a common supplement in many of our meals. People at risk for high blood pressure are wise to think twice before eating pickles.
Thus, it is clear that salt directly or indirectly causes an increase in blood pressure. Also, keep in mind that sea salt or table salt is salt. Every type of salt contains sodium. Excess salt in other foods such as butter, sauces, and salads can raise your blood pressure, and make sure you consume them in moderation.
There are other foods that can cause high blood pressure, and in my next article, I will look at foods and factors that can help control high blood pressure.
References
- What is High Blood Pressure? (heart.org)
- The lifestyle modification effectiveness in reducing Hypertension in a Brazilian Community: From the epigenetic basis of Ancestral Survival to the Contemporary Lifestyle and Public Health Initiatives (clinhypertensionjournal.com)
- In Brief: Your Guide to Lowering Your Blood Pressure with DASH | Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (ahrq.gov)
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