High blood pressure is a common condition in which the long-term force of the blood pushing against your artery walls is consistently too high. While this mechanism may not present any outward signs initially, a consistently high blood pressure reading can lead to a number of potentially fatal complications in the long run, such as heart disease.
To ward off the threat posed by high blood pressure, it is therefore important to avoid the triggers. Diet plays a prominent role in regulating blood pressure, with certain dietary decisions having a direct impact on your reading. Foods with a high salt content are the worst culprits because salt makes your body hold on to water.
Blood Pressure UK explains: “If you eat too much salt, the extra water stored in your body raises your blood pressure. So, the more salt you eat, the higher your blood pressure.” Furthermore, eating too much salt may mean that blood pressure medicines (such as diuretics) don’t work as well as they could, adds the health site.
To avoid the risks posed by salty foods, the NHS recommends adults should eat no more than 6g of salt a day (2.4g sodium) – that’s around one teaspoon. Some foods present hidden risks to blood pressure control, however, making it easier to overindulge and raise your reading. Potatoes are a prime example of foods that are deceptively risky, according to findings published by The BMJ.
