Hypertension Diet

Drugs do not remove the cause, nor do they cure the condition. All drugs against hypertension without exception, are toxic and have distressing side-effects. The fast way to cure hypertension is to eliminate the poisons from the system, which cause it. Persons with high blood pressure should always follow a well-balanced routine of proper diet, exercise and rest.

Diet for Hypertension

Diet is of primary importance.

Vegetables are also good for a patient of hypertension. They should preferably be taken raw. If they are cooked, it could be ensured that their natural goodness is not destroyed in the process of cooking. Vegetables like cucumber, carrot, tomato, onion, radish, cabbage and spinach are best taken in their raw form. They may be cut into small pieces and sprinkled with a little salt and the juice of a lemon added to them so as to make them more palatable. The intake of salt should be restricted; in any case it should not be taken more than four grams or half a teaspoon per day. Baking powder containing sodium carbonate should also be avoided.
Garlic is regarded as one of the most effective remedies to lower blood pressure. The pressure and tension are reduced because it has the power to ease the spasm of the small arteries. Garlic also slows the pulse and modifies the heart rhythm besides relieving the symptoms of dizziness Numbness shortness of breath and the formation of gas within the digestive tract. The average dosage •should be two to three capsules a day to make a dent in the blood pressure.

Recent studies have revealed an important link between dietary calcium and potassium and hypertension. Researchers have found that people who take potassium rich diets have a low incidence of hypertension even it they do not control their salt-intake. They have also found that people with hypertension do not seem to get much calcium in the form of dairy products. The two essentia1 nutrients seem to' help the body throw off excess sodium and are involved in important functions which control the working of the vascular system. Potassium is found in abundance in fruits and vegetables and calcium in dairy products.

The patient of hypertension should follow a plan of a well-balanced diet in which the constituents of food should be approximately in the following proportion: carbohydrate twenty per cent protein ten to fifteen percent fat five per cent and fruits and vegetables sixty to sixty-five per cent. In this plan one main meal should be based on raw foods while the second main meal may consist of cooked foods. Meals should be taken slowly and in a relaxed atmosphere. Food should be well masticated as the process of digestion begins in the mouth. The dinner should not normally be taken late.

TREATMENT CHART FOR HYPERTENSION

A - DIET

I. Juice diet for 5 days. Use warm water enema daily during this period.

II. All-fruit diet for further 5 days, with three meals a day at five-hourly intervals.

III. Thereafter, adopt the following diet: -

1. Early Morning: A glass of lukewarm water mixed with the juice of half a lime.

2. Breakfast: Fruits and skimmed milk.

3. Mid-morning: Coconut water.

4. Lunch: Steamed vegetables, whole-wheat wheat tortilla or brown rice and a glass of buttermilk.

5. Mid-afternoon: A glass of carrot juice or orange juice.

6. Dinner: Salad of raw vegetables, green gram sprouts and vegetable soup.

AVOID: Meats, sugar, white flour, tea, coffee, condiments, pickles fried foods, and products made from sugar and white flour.

Important: Restrict the intake of salt and use liberally garlic and indian gooseberry.

B - OTHER MEASURES

1. Exercise, especially brisk walking and yoga asanas like pavanmuktasana, uttanpadasana and shavasana.

2. Hot foot immersion in case of high blood pressure accompanied with headache.

Food For Hypertension Patients

Think of your arteries as hoses that carry blood to the heart. The heart then oxygenates and pumps this blood to the rest of the body. Now imagine pinching this hose at some point. The result is a massive build up of pressure pushing against your arteries. As the blood rushes towards your heart, you may experience palpitations registered due to a faster heartbeat. Hypertension or high blood pressure is a common medical condition where the blood travels through your arteries at an elevated or high pressure. Fortunately, you can measure your blood pressure and identify if you are suffering from hypertension by placing a blood pressure cuff around your arm. If you are suffering from hypertension, have suffered from it in the past, or have a family history of hypertension, a regular check up will help you identify if you need to make any lifestyle changes to stay within the normal blood pressure range. With proper exercise and a diet plan for hypertensive patients, individuals may be able to control their blood pressure and avoid future complications. If you do not seek medical help or keep your high blood pressure under control, you may eventually face serious health problems like a heart attack, kidney failure, damage to the blood vessels, or a fatal stroke.

Hypertensive patients may not always recognize symptoms unless they go through a high blood pressure test. In fact, many hypertensive patients will go through years of high blood pressure without noticing any outward signs. However, a reading might show dangerously high levels of blood pressure with a fatality waiting to happen. Some symptoms that may show up include dull headaches, nosebleeds, dizziness, and fatigue. However, this may occur just before a severe attack. This is why it is imperative to have regular check ups, especially after forty. Men maybe afflicted during their middle age, while women are at a greater risk after menopause. Hypertension is also common if you have a family history of this condition. Lifestyle factors include overweight or obese individuals, sedentary lifestyle, individuals who abuse alcohol and tobacco, lack of essential nutrients like potassium and vitamin D in your daily diet, excess of sodium in your daily diet, and high levels of stress. A combination of medical conditions such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, kidney malfunction, and cholesterol problems may also increase the risk of hypertension. Hypertension is a life threatening medical condition; however, with a few tweaks to your daily routine you can manage to keep it under control.

Diet for hypertension patients. If you are suffering from hypertension, it is imperative to seek medical advice immediately. While exercise and diet for hypertensive patients will go a long way in controlling your blood pressure, you may also need additional prescription medication to keep hypertension under check. Diet for a hypertensive patient must emphasize a healthy serving of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low fat diary products. If you are looking for guidelines concerning diet plan for hypertensive patient, you may consider the DASH Diet endorsed by the National Institute of Health (United States). Under DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension), you can find foods for hypertension patients that will help them lower their blood pressure significantly. Meals for people with high blood pressure should include at least two to three servings of whole grains and grain products per day. However, keep in mind that refined flour products such as bread and pasta are avoidable. Instead, opt for brown rice, multi grain bread, and wheat pasta. This will provide your body with recommended dietary fiber and essential micronutrients. A diet for hypertension patients should also include plenty of fresh vegetables and three to four servings of fruit daily. While dairy products such as milk, cheese, and yogurt should be included as food for hypertension patients, you may substitute low fat or non-fat varieties of these products to lower your blood pressure. Lean cuts of meat, poultry (egg whites and white meat from chicken), and seafood may also be included in food for hypertension patient. Also, include the dietary benefits of various nuts, seeds, lentils, and legumes in a diet for hypertension patients.

Low sodium diet. A low sodium approach should be part of the diet for a hypertension patient. The recommended measure of sodium is 2400 mg per day for a healthy adult. However, you may notice a significant drop in your blood pressure when you reduce your salt intake to 1500 mg per day. Like many of the herbs and spices, the amount of salt in your food is an acquired taste. You may believe that the addition of salt to your food makes it tasty. This is why you may find it difficult in the beginning; however, your taste buds will get used to the decreased amount of salt in your food gradually. Decreasing the salt in your daily diet is one way to lower blood pressure. However, processed and canned foods also contain high levels of sodium used for preservation and taste. Avoid processed foods like chips, sauces, frozen entrees, canned soups, and even cooking broths that contain high amounts of sodium. Instead, look for low sodium options. Even baked goods like bread and diary products like cheese contain high amounts of sodium. Read labels carefully before purchasing products. Some medication is also likely to contain sodium. Talk to your doctor about your recommended measure of sodium per day. Your dietician may also be able to help you recognize foods that you should limit or avoid.

Some other steps that you can take to lower your high blood pressure or hypertension include the following:

•    Avoid the use of tobacco products. Smoking increases the blood pressure temporarily resulting in a faster heartbeat. Overtime, this can result in coronary diseases like heart attack and stroke.
•    Stress and anxiety have a similar affect on the blood pressure and pace of heartbeats. Learning relaxation techniques like Yoga and Tai Chi may lower the chance of hypertension. Deep breathing techniques help to calm your mind and body and may help to lower blood pressure.
•    A regular routine of exercise will help to keep your weight under control and avoid arterial plaque or congestion, which could give rise to hypertension. If you are overweight, losing five pounds of your total body weight may make a significant difference to your blood pressure readings.
•   Limit your consumption of alcohol and caffeinated beverages. They act as stimulants increasing blood pressure.
•   Monitor your blood pressure regularly. This will enable you to keep it under control, alert your doctor to further complications, and allow you to understand how diet and exercise affect your levels of blood pressure. You may monitor your blood pressure at home if you suffer from hypertension or perform a regular check up if you have suffered from hypertension in the past and are at risk in the future.