High blood pressure affects millions of people. According to the CDC, up to a third of people who have it don’t even know it. You may need to make some changes once you locate the problem.
weight issuesDropping is somewhat low because five to ten pounds can lower blood pressure, according to Heart.org. That’s great, but it’s not easy to lose weight without knowledge and change.
The best method I’ve found is to use a calorie calculator. Caleriesperhour.com has the best I’ve ever seen. It helps you count everything you eat (including fast food) and everything you do. At the end of the day, if you have burned more than what you have eaten, then you are on your way to losing weight.
what to avoid: There are some things that can increase blood pressure no matter what your weight is. Sodium and caffeine are two of the worst offenders. Reducing sodium intake to 1200 mg or less can make a big difference. It is also wise to get rid of caffeine altogether. If you take too much of it, don’t go cold turkey. Withdrawal headache is not pleasant.
enjoy the food: For the past nine years, I have been working on ways to eat well that do not threaten blood pressure levels. Increasing the use of herbs and spices is one way. It’s good to use unsalted stock (or better still, make your own). 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, delicious and healthy.
nutritionist: Not everyone has the time or inclination to do a lot from scratch cooking. A nutritionist can help you sift through a mine of prepackaged foods and design meals that stay within your diet budget. Your doctor can refer you and some insurance plans cover it.
Source by Mary Bodel
