​​​​High Blood Pressure: 3 Foods to Avoid (2024)

FAQs

​​​​High Blood Pressure: 3 Foods to Avoid? ›

Key takeaways: Dietary habits can have a big impact on your blood pressure. If you have high blood pressure, it's especially important to limit how much salt (maximum daily limit of 1,500 mg), alcohol, caffeine, and unhealthy fats you consume.

Beans, tomatoes, mushrooms, and avocado are other potassium-rich foods that may help lower blood pressure naturally.

Foods high in salt, sugar, and saturated or trans fats can increase blood pressure and damage your heart health. By limiting these foods and replacing them with healthy options, you can keep your blood pressure at a healthy level.

The top fruits for lowering blood pressure include bananas, apples, pears, apricots, grapes, raisins, kiwis, mangoes, watermelon, pomegranate, plums, prunes, avocado, cantaloupe, honeydew melon, tomatoes, citrus fruit, berries, and more.

In addition to deep breathing exercises, other methods that may help reduce stress and lower blood pressure include: taking a short walk, acupuncture, drinking hibiscus tea, and getting some sun. If calming techniques don't help, consult a physician immediately.

There are a range of drinks that may help lower a person's blood pressure in the morning. If a person with hypertension usually drinks coffee or sugary juice in the morning, it may be beneficial for them to swap it for beetroot juice, unsalted tomato juice, green tea, or unsweetened pomegranate juice.

Are bananas OK if you have high blood pressure? Bananas are generally considered safe for people with high blood pressure. Their high potassium content helps counteract sodium's blood pressure-raising effects. However, it's crucial to maintain a balanced diet and manage sodium intake as well.

Diet high in salt (sodium) or low in potassium.

Sodium and potassium are two nutrients that the body needs to control blood pressure. If you have too much sodium or too little potassium in your diet, you may develop elevated blood pressure.

Eggs don't have a direct impact on blood pressure, Dr. Hausvater adds—for example, eating a couple eggs won't cause a surge upward or a sudden downward dip—but they may have an indirect effect because they contain potassium and calcium, which contribute to lower blood pressure.

What are good snacks for high blood pressure? ›

Instead of snacking on chips or sweets, eat unsalted pretzels or nuts, raisins, low-fat and fat-free yogurt, frozen yogurt, unsalted plain popcorn with no butter, and raw vegetables. Read food labels to choose low-sodium products.

One of the main fats in peanut butter is oleic acid. When substituted for other fats in your diet, oleic acid helps maintain good cholesterol, blood sugar, and blood pressure. Managing these levels in your body can lower the risk of heart disease. Peanut butter also contains omega-6 fatty acid.

Helps Reduce Blood Pressure

The potassium found in lemon juice can also help diminish the effects of salt on blood pressure. Studies have shown that, when combined with daily walks, lemon intake can be an effective treatment for high blood pressure.

The top drinks for lowering blood pressure include water, fruit juices (pomegranate, prune, cranberry, cherry), vegetable juice (tomato, raw beet), tea (black, green), and skim milk.

Make at least one of your daily vegetable servings a dark leafy green like arugula, cabbage, kale or spinach for potentially greater blood pressure benefits. A serving of leafy greens is 1 cup of raw greens or ½ cup cooked greens.

The Bottom Line. Bananas are a nutritious and tasty option for helping lower blood pressure. Loaded with essential nutrients like potassium, fiber and vitamin C, bananas offer several benefits for cardiovascular health. Their potassium content counterbalances sodium intake, promoting blood vessel relaxation.

If blood pressure becomes elevated due to dehydration, it may be possible to help lower it by drinking water. Dehydration causes the blood to have higher than normal levels of sodium. When this happens, the brain sends signals to the pituitary gland to secrete vasopressin, also called antidiuretic hormone.

Eggs don't have a direct impact on blood pressure, Dr. Hausvater adds—for example, eating a couple eggs won't cause a surge upward or a sudden downward dip—but they may have an indirect effect because they contain potassium and calcium, which contribute to lower blood pressure.