Lower Blood Pressure

Help for High Blood PressureMost Americans will develop essential hypertension in their lifetime and more than half of adult Americans have a blood pressure that is higher than normal. One in four Americans already has hypertension which puts them at increased risk for stroke, heart attack, and kidney failure.It is never too late to take stock of your eating plan to see if it has enough of the right stuff, potassium, calcium and magnesium, which were shown to be important minerals in lowering blood pressure in the DASH study and less of the wrong stuff: salt.

  • Potassium is found abundantly in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and beans.
  • Healthy, rich sources of calcium include: skim milk, nonfat ricotta and nonfat yogurt, green leafy vegetables, and fortified orange juice.
  • Magnesium is found in whole grains such as whole wheat, brown rice, nuts, dried beans and peas, soybeans, and dark green leafy vegetables.

Here are some tips for keeping your intake of these beneficial minerals high:

  • Eat a whole grain cereal, fresh fruit and skim milk for breakfast.
  • Choose raw vegetables and fresh fruit for snacks.
  • At lunch and dinner, fill ? of your plate with vegetables and salad, ? with a grain product, and ? with beans, fish, or lean poultry.
  • Treat yourself to fresh fruit and nonfat yogurt for dessert.
  • Have a meatless meal two or more times per week that is based on grains, vegetables and beans.
  • Eat fish often, especially salmon and tuna.
  • Enjoy a palm full of unsalted nuts for a snack 2 or 3 times per week.

And here are tips to keep your salt/sodium intake low:

  • Limiting sodium intake is easy when you are basing your meal plan around fresh whole foods such as the ones listed above.? Here are some more tips:
  • Instead of adding salt to your food, get creative with herbs, spices, lemon and lime juice and hot peppers. There are many salt-free seasonings on the market so check out your grocery store spice shelf the next time you shop.
  • Avoid processed foods such as canned soups, processed meats, canned vegetables, frozen dinners, and boxed convenience meals. Read labels and compare brands of all packaged and canned foods before buying.? Sodium content varies between brands.
  • Limit or avoid snacks such as chips, pretzels, salted crackers, popcorn, and nuts, or look for low salt or unsalted products.
  • Choose lower-sodium versions of your favorite condiments, such as ketchup and soy sauce, and go easy on them.

The good news is that a diet to prevent high blood pressure is a very healthy diet that goes along with recommendations from many health experts for optimal health: a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes with nonfat dairy products and lean poultry and fish. Sound familiar?By:? Beth Fontenot, MS, RDFMI: Visit the DASH website.Many low sodium recipes found here: http://foodandhealth.com 

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Judy Doherty, MPS, PCII

Judy’s passion for cooking began with helping her grandmother make raisin oatmeal for breakfast. From there, she earned her first food service job at 15, was accepted to the world-famous Culinary Institute of America at 18 (where she graduated second in her class), and went on to the Fachschule Richemont in Switzerland, where she focused on pastry arts and baking. After a decade in food service for Hyatt Hotels, Judy launched Food and Health Communications to focus on flavor and health. She graduated with Summa Cum Laude distinction from Johnson and Wales University with a BS in Culinary Arts, holds a master’s degree in Food Business from the Culinary Institute of America, two art certificates from UC Berkeley Extension, and runs a food photography & motion studio where her love is creating fun recipes and content.

Judy received The Culinary Institute of America’s Pro Chef II certification, the American Culinary Federation Bronze Medal, Gold Medal, and ACF Chef of the Year. Her enthusiasm for eating nutritiously and deliciously leads her to constantly innovate and use the latest nutritional science and Dietary Guidelines to guide her creativity, from putting new twists on fajitas to adapting Italian brownies to include ingredients like toasted nuts and cooked honey. Judy’s publishing company, Food and Health Communications, is dedicated to her vision that everyone can make food that tastes as good as it is for you.

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