Foods to Avoid If You Have High Blood Pressure

59. The Spice of Life (with a Catch): Seasoning Blends

You might think you’re adding flavor without adding salt, but many store-bought seasoning blends and rubs are packed with sodium. Brands often use salt as the primary ingredient to enhance taste and act as a cheap filler. Even blends labeled "all-purpose" or "cajun seasoning" can have upwards of 300mg of sodium per quarter teaspoon. Smart swap: Create your own custom spice blends at home using herbs like rosemary, thyme, and paprika, along with a pinch of black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder for flavor without the salt.

60. Diet and Sugar-Free Foods: The Salty Compensation

You're trying to be healthy by choosing diet-friendly or sugar-free foods, but you might be unknowingly inviting more salt into your diet. Manufacturers often add extra sodium to compensate for the flavor lost when they remove sugar or fat. Foods like low-fat salad dressings, sugar-free ketchup, and "diet" snack crackers can contain just as much, if not more, sodium than their full-fat or full-sugar counterparts. Smart swap: Read labels carefully on all "healthy" and "diet" products. Better yet, make your own dressings and sauces from scratch using fresh ingredients to control sodium content.