These Foods Are Secretly Bad for Blood Pressure

With almost one-third of Americans struggling with high blood pressure, this health concern is a widespread problem throughout the nation. Also known as hypertension, this condition can cause blood vessel damage that can potentially lead to a variety of ailments from heart disease to kidney failure to stroke and more. Although genetics, age, gender, and race are big contributors to your risk of developing high blood pressure, lifestyle elements are also a crucial factor. Fortunately, high blood pressure sufferers can proactively lower their levels by engaging in better exercise and eating habits. In addition to adding a variety of leafy greens, lean proteins, legumes, berries, whole grains, and more in an effort bring blood pressure levels down, there are also a host of foods that you should avoid. By eliminating these foods from your diet, you can ensure that you are doing your part to lower your blood pressure. Here are some of the biggest culprits that are bad for blood pressure:

1 - Salt

It is a well-known fact that salt is a major contributor to hypertension. Because the majority of salt intake comes from processed food, it is important to carefully read labels. Many people erroneously assume that their sodium intake is in check because they are not adding it to food or cooking with it. However, in order to effectively limit salt intake, it is imperative to carefully scrutinize all of the food that goes into your body and look for hidden sodium content in every meal.

2 - Canned Soup

Few things are as comforting on a cold and dreary day as a bowl of soup. However, most conventional canned soups are loaded with sodium. Even seemingly innocuous broths and stocks can be a detriment to those looking to lower their blood pressure. The good news is that soup and broths are easy to make at home. By choosing homemade options, you can ensure that your soup will be friendly to blood pressure issues. Soup also freezes well, making it a great choice to make in large batches and have on hand for when you need a quick and healthy meal.

3 - Alcohol

Athough small to moderate amounts of alcohol can actually work to lower blood pressure, drinking too much or binge drinking can actually raise your risk of developing hypertension. Binge drinking not only produces a momentary spike in blood pressure, but its long-term effects also add up as you continue to drink regularly. Because alcohol is high in calories, drinking too much can lead to weight gain and contribute to higher levels of blood pressure. The active ingredients in alcohol can also negate the use of prescription drugs used to treat hypertension.

4 - Saturated and Trans Fats

Saturated fats are found in many animal products. Common items that are high in saturated include full-fat dairy, red meat, butter, and poultry skin. Dangerous trans fats are found in items such as packaged and prepared foods. These fats are common in baked goods that also contain large amounts of sugar and other high carbohydrate foods. The simple rule to remember is that foods that are closest to their natural form are going to be healthier for you than those that are heavily processed.