5 Foolproof Ways to Whip Up a Hypertension-Halting Diet

Avoid Processed Foods

Many processed foods are high in sodium and salt, and according to the United States Food And Drug Administration (FDA), about seventy-five percent of the average sodium Americans consume daily is the result of processed foods or salt added to food at restaurants. It's important to be aware of what packaged foods have high sodium levels. Packaged ramen is a staple of many college students' pantries, but just one serving can have more than one hundred percent of the daily recommended amount of sodium.

Deli meat is another processed food to avoid. The seasoning, preserving, and curing processes can all include salt, and just two ounces of certain lunch meats could contain more than five hundred milligrams of sodium. Processed pizzas are another minefield because of the combination of crust, tomato sauce, cured meats, and cheese, and unlike freshly cooked pizza, frozen pizzas tend to have added sodium to maintain flavor. Canned soups can be high in sodium, and though they're easy to prepare, making fresh soup is better. Salty snacks like potato chips can also be damaging.

Don't Add Additional Salt

Even if individuals cut out processed foods entirely, only buy organic produce, and stop eating out at restaurants, they can still make sodium mistakes. Many individuals cook with a lot of salt and table salt is a staple at meals. Individuals are expected to sprinkle a little onto their meat, potatoes, and vegetables to add a little flavor. Not only that, but salt is a big part of the cooking process itself. Many recipes call for salt to be added to boiling water to help enhance the flavors of the food cooking, and throughout the seasoning process, individuals will likely add salt to taste.

However, particularly for blood pressure, individuals should be aware of how much salt they're adding to their food and cut back. Individuals will find after a few weeks of lowering their salt intake, processed foods and restaurant foods will taste too salty. Their taste buds will rearrange themselves to accommodate the new dietary restrictions. Lowering salt intake can be difficult at first, but the effect on blood pressure is worth it.