How Does Diet Affect Blood Pressure?
What Is Blood Pressure?
One of the first things your doctor is likely going to prescribe if you are diagnosed with high blood pressure is a change in your diet. Many patients can control their blood pressure problems almost completely with dietary restrictions. However, many do not know why they need to make these changes. Sometimes this lack of knowledge can cause them to be unmotivated to make the necessary changes. Understanding how the food you eat affects your blood pressure starts with understanding what blood pressure is. Blood pressure is a measure of the force of the blood in your body as it pushes against the walls of the blood vessels. When this pressure is too high, it puts stress on the blood vessels, arteries and heart. Few people know what actually causes high blood pressure, but it can be treated with dietary changes.
The Effect of Salt on Blood Pressure
Salt is the main culprit when it comes to foods that increase blood pressure. Foods that are high in salt are also high in sodium. When you eat too much sodium, the body knows that it needs to flush out some of this mineral, and therefore it retains water to clean itself out. When you are already suffering from high blood pressure, this water retention can make it rise even higher. On the other hand, reducing your salt and sodium intake can help your body release some of this water, and this may help lower your blood pressure.
The Effect of Fat and Calories on Blood Pressure
A heart-healthy diet is also one that is low in fat and calories. Fat and calories do not directly affect blood pressure, but they indirectly affect it. A diet that is high in fat and calories will cause most people to gain weight. Being overweight is one risk factor for high blood pressure. Blood pressure will rise and fall with your weight, and the amount of fat in your diet will contribute to this. Studies have shown that losing even 10 pounds will lower blood pressure dramatically for those who have been diagnosed with hypertension.
Other Foods That Effect Blood Pressure
Alcohol and caffeine also affect blood pressure. No one knows exactly why, but increased alcohol consumption causes blood pressure to rise. Those who are working to control their blood pressure should only consume one or two alcoholic beverages a day. Of course, alcohol also contains empty calories that can increase weight gain. Caffeine is another food that causes increases in blood pressure, even for those who do not have problems with hypertension. This spike in blood pressure is particularly dangerous for people who rarely consume caffeine, as the blood pressure spikes can be quite high for these people. Soft drinks seem to be the most dangerous sources of caffeine for those watching their blood pressure, but research has not yet been able to prove why.
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