Hypertension also referred to as high blood pressure, is a problem faced by millions of people around the world. It is caused by a variety of reasons that can be anything from age to stress to excess weight. This makes it a problem that affects all age groups. The good part of this is that it can be cured. If diagnosed early, doctors can prescribe medicines to help lower blood pressure.
Few people are aware of the importance of diet in the management of hypertension. Just reducing salt intake or avoiding alcohol is not enough to get your blood pressure under control. An ideal diet plan for patients
Diet is very important in the management of high blood pressure patients' health state. Very few diseases are there where diet is as important as high blood pressure. Some of the diseases where diet plays a major role in management (treatment) are diabetes, gout, cardiovascular diseases, etc. But the role of diet in these diseases is not as important as that of hypertension except diabetes, where diet plays a major role in its management. A proper diet with low sodium content is essential in the management of high blood pressure. In most cases of high blood pressure, the cause of high blood pressure is not known, and it is called essential hypertension. There is a very less percentage of hypertension patients where the cause can be defined.
Patients with essential hypertension require a proper diet plan as part of the treatment of hypertension. Many of the mild to moderate high blood pressure cases can be managed with proper planning of diet alone, without the need for medication.
The major aim and objective of a diet plan in hypertension are to provide adequate nutrition for optimal health state and also to keep high blood pressure under control (within normal limit) and not allow blood pressure to go up further.
A proper diet plan for patients with high blood pressure is like this:
Early morning:
The early morning should be only tea, preferably black tea without sugar. If sugar is added to tea it should be minimal for taste.
Breakfast:
The breakfast should consist of tea/coffee (black tea or coffee), milk, porridge, etc. A liberal amount of fresh fruits (as well as fruit juice) like apples, pears, watermelon, papaya, etc. can be taken.
Lunch:
The lunch should be taken according to the customs, traditions, and liking of the individual. But it should be remembered that lunch should not be very heavy and preferably it should have a good amount of vegetables and whole cereals.
Evening tea:
It should be with tea or coffee with non-salted biscuits.
Dinner:
It should be started with soup (tomato or other vegetable soup). Not much salt should be added (as the salt content is generally high in soups). One serving of whole cereals (like rice, bread made of whole grain, etc.), salad, and fresh vegetable preparation. Fruit custard can be taken at dinner time.
Conclusion:
The most important thing you can do to fight your hypertension is to take your medication and follow your doctor’s orders. Depending on your current diet, there are a few things you can add to your diet to help reduce your blood pressure.
We recommend that you cut out salty foods, caffeine, and carbonated drinks. Try to eat less red meat, egg yolks, and dairy products. As a substitute, you can try more chicken, fish, and vegetables. It’s also a good idea to eat several small meals throughout the day instead of three large ones.
By trying to follow these small tips, you can help keep your blood pressure under control and live a healthier lifestyle.
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