Diets for High Blood Pressure

Diets designed for high blood pressure often are designed to cut down on sodium. They often have guidelines for eating more fresh fruit and vegetables, whole grains and leans cuts of meat and fish. The purpose of the diet is to help lower blood pressure and keep the blood pressure in a healthy range. High blood pressure can lead to hypertension and strokes.

History

The DASH Diet is the Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension. It was established by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute as a way to treat hypertension. The diet recommends limiting sodium and learning about the roles of three minerals in relations to blood pressure. The minerals are calcium, magnesium and potassium. The diet puts emphasis on eating whole grain, fruits, vegetables, low fat dairy and meat products. It suggests 1,500 milligrams of sodium daily for those on the diet. There are other forms of the diet for hypertension and high blood pressure but most follow these general guidelines including cutting down on sodium intake.

Significance

The role of the diet is to control hypertension which leads to heart attacks and strokes. People with high blood pressure often tend to develop these diseases and need this diet. Eating the right foods help meet all the dietary needs while lowering the sodium. There are many ways to lower the sodium in your diet which helps in controlling hypertension. Sodium is necessary to the body so it is important to monitor sodium so that you get enough but not too much.

Function

The diet specifies seven to eight servings of grains per day. It recommends four to five servings of fresh fruits and vegetables. Two or three servings of low fat dairy products and meat daily are suggested. Four to five servings of nuts, seeds and beans per week are part of the daily requirement of the diet for high blood pressure. Avoid taking the following supplements as they may increase your blood pressure: ginseng and licorice. Potassium regulates high blood pressure and foods rich in this are bananas, beans, tofu and potatoes. So eat more of these items in your diet.

Features

Cutting down on salt means reading food labels carefully .This is another important factor in high blood pressure diets. Look for food products that say low sodium or salt free. Check ingredients for any listings of chemicals like monosodium glutamate and sodium benzoate. These often mean products with high sodium content so avoid them. Avoid highly processed meats like bacon and cold cuts. Try removing the salt shaker and use herbs and spices.

Considerations

Maintain a healthy body weight and exercise regularly. Just losing weight by eating sensibly and exercising a few times a week improves your chances of developing hypertension. Limit your intake of alcohol during the week and eat plenty of food rich in potassium. Some sources are oranges, spinach, watermelon and zucchini. Foods that are good for you are fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low fat dairy and lean meat and fish.