A High Blood Pressure Diet
Is The First Place To Start
On The Road To Health

Most Of Our Health Problems Come From
Our Dinner Plate, And Are Self Inflicted

There is not a particular "High Blood Pressure Diet" per se. Everyone has different needs and the individuals pre-treatment diet must be taken into consideration to determine what should be eliminated and what might be added. Some people need nothing more than to get more exercise, while others may have a whole host of changes to be made.

Whatever your case may be, it is wise to become aware of what is good and what is bad for you. Some of the most common foods available contain treasures of health. Some are so common that we take them for granted and give them no more value than what our taste buds tell us. But there is more to food than taste. When you begin to see food in a new light, and to understand what it can do for you (or to you), then you will be equipped to make the necessary changes.

Adjust Your Mindset

Consider an analogy: Have you ever fallen in love with someone you never would have given a second though to? Or have you ever become fond of a thing or a place that you never would have expected? Most of us have. If you have not, I'm sure you can understand the experience. What happened to change our passions about that person, place, or thing? It was the development of a relationship which changed our point of view. The same phenomenon applies to Nutritional Healing and appreciating healthy diets. Once you "fall in love" with a diet that "loves" you and rewards your body with rejuvenating strength and health, you will never again crave a diet that deprives you of that relationship. Fat, alcohol, smoking, sweets, etc... will also be seen from a different point of view.

Diet; Your First Plan Of Action

So what is good Food For High Blood Pressure; and what kind of nutrients can improve our overall health? Also, what kind of foods should we avoid? Let's start with the "Dos."

• Do eat foods high in fiber. If you take a fiber supplement, talk to your doctor about its interaction with any medication you may be on. Oat Bran, Whole Wheat, Brown Rice, Pasta, Legumes, Fruits, Nuts, and Vegetables are all good sources of fiber. For a more detailed breakdown of the particulars of each, the Mayo Clinic provides some helpful information.
• Vegetables which are particularly good for High Blood Pressure are, Celery, Beats, Spinach, Parsley, Garlic, Leeks, and Carrots.

  

• Juicing is an excellent way to get high concentrations of the nutrients needed, but don't overdo it. Make sure your nutritional intake is balanced.
• Fish and Omega 3 Fish Oils, are essential elements to your diet. But balance your Omega 3 with Omega 6.
• Plenty of green leafy vegetables high in chlorophyll such as Spinach, Cabbage, Bok Choy, Collards, Lettuce are all healing in nature.
• Herbs used medicinally are described in more detail on our Herbs For High Blood Pressure pages.
• All fruits are beneficial of course, but most beneficial to High Blood Pressure is Lemon and Lime, the high acidic content cleanses the arteries. Combining Lemon with a 1/4 teaspoon of Cayenne Pepper is a very effective Natural Remedy for Hypertension.

This is in no way an exhaustive list, but you should have enough ammunition to go to battle with your Hypertension enemy.

Abstinance; Your Second Plan Of Action

Here are some "Don'ts," which are probably even more important to understand. You can probably get by without the "Dos" if you can avoid the "Don'ts."

• Avoid animal fat. This is probably the hardest pill for people to swallow. But if you suffer from High Blood Pressure, you might want to consider a more vegetarian based diet. Avoid, Beef, Pork, or Dairy Products. Smoked and processed meats are the worst offenders. Fish and skinless poultry are OK in moderation, but they should not be fried. (Note: According to a Swedish study by Dr. Eva Warensjo recorded in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition recently, dairy fat is now considered good for the heart). This contradicts past studies, and this one was coincidentally funded by The Swedish Dairy Association and The International Dairy Federation. Draw your own conclusions, but as always consult your doctor. Common sense tells me dairy fat is still questionable. Why risk it?
• Stay away from cheeses, sour cream, yogurt, chocolate, and ice cream. These contain dairy animal fats.
• There are even some bad foods that are disguised as "good" foods, and they are normally OK, but not for those of us with Hypertension. These include; Avocados, Fava Beans, Pickled Herring, and Anchovies. It would probably be best to avoid anything pickled.
• Another tough one for many; No Alcohol. Zero, Zip, Nada. This includes wine which has been lauded for its potential heart benefits. It may benefit the healthy, but for those of us with Hypertension, it is a slow acting poison.
• Try not eating at all (on occasion). Fasting and cleansing for 2 or 3 days each month would be optimal although not always practical. But if you can, give it a try. You will notice the effects.
• Avoid artificial sweeteners. Even if you are healthy, these are not good. They are a necessary evil for those who are diabetic. But even they would be better off without these.
• Go light on real sugar as well.
• Coffee? Tea? or... NOT! Caffeine is something you should seriously eliminate from your diet. Many soft drinks and even chocolates also contain caffeine, so check the ingredients before buying. In addition to the caffeine, most people take coffe with sugar and cream, which together are even worse than taken individually. I won't even begin to list the negative additives in soft drinks. Another tough pill to swallow for many. But the improved quality of life you will experience should put that concern to rest. Note: there are studies out suggesting that the effects of caffiene on Blood Pressure is minimal (among healthy candidates), but it is undisputable that caffiene is directly related to stress which is a prime factor in High Blood Pressure. Unfortunately, some studies need to be analyzed to see if they have an underlying economic agenda manipulating a valid health concern.

This should give you an idea of what your dietary and nutritional options are. But that is just one piece of the puzzle. Another important weapon in our arsenal is to introduce certain beneficial Herbs For High Blood Pressure into our diet to increase our chances of victory in this battle.

“In health there is freedom. Health is the first of all liberties.” Henri Frederic Amiel

Drink to your health? Really???!!!

  
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