High blood pressure affects millions of people. According to the CDC, up to a third of those who have it don’t even know it. Once you find the problem, you may need to make some changes.
weight problems: According to heart.org, dropping is little, as five to ten pounds could lower your blood pressure. That’s great, but losing weight is not easy without knowledge and changes.
The best method I have found is to use a calorie calculator. Caleriesperhour.com has the best I’ve ever seen. It helps calculate everything you eat (including fast food) and everything you do. At the end of the day, if you’ve burned off more than you’ve eaten, you’re on your way to losing weight.
What to avoid: There are things that can cause your blood pressure to rise no matter how much you weigh. Sodium and caffeine are two of the worst offenders. Reducing your sodium intake to 1,200 mg or less can make a big difference. Getting rid of caffeine completely is also a good idea. If you eat a lot, don’t do it all at once. A withdrawal headache is not pleasant.
enjoying the food: For the past nine years I have been researching ways to have a good meal that does not threaten blood pressure levels. Increasing the use of herbs and spices is one route. Using unsalted broth (or better yet, making your own) is good. Even if I have to start from scratch (read the label on canned tomato sauce or canned pasta sauce and you’ll see why), it can be done, tasty and healthy.
nutritionists: Not everyone has the time or inclination to do a lot of cooking from scratch. A nutritionist can help you overcome the minefield of prepackaged foods and easy-to-make meals that stay within your dietary budget. Your doctor can refer you and some insurance plans cover it.
