Did you know that a staggering 33% of Australian adults suffer from high blood pressure? Also known as hypertension, this condition – which can lead to heart attack, stroke, kidney disease and a host of other debilitating and potentially fatal health problems – is often treated with various prescriptions and pills.
What if we told you that your diet can help to relieve some or even all of your hypertension issues? Or, better yet, prevent you from experiencing it in the first place?
It’s true that what you put in your body directly affects your health, both in the short and long-term. So, what is a ‘high blood pressure diet’? And can it work for everyone? Read on to find out.
The Natural Way to Improve your High Blood Pressure
While we are certainly not advising against prescription medication used to treat hypertension, it is very important to understand the role that diet plays on your health. A combination of healthy diet and professionally-recommended drug treatments can help you to lower your blood pressure significantly and prevent disease in the future.
So, what should you be eating to safeguard your body from hypertension?
Fresh Fruit and Veggies
Fruits and vegetables should make up a significant portion of your daily diet and be incorporated into most meals. This food is naturally packed with a huge variety of vitamins, minerals and nutrients that your body not only needs to feel its best, but to defend itself from sickness and disease.
You should be aiming to eat around four to five servings of veggies every day, and two to four servings of fresh fruit.
While this might seem like a lot, all it takes is a little thought to prep them into your meals. Green leafy vegetables such as spinach, broccoli and kale can easily be added into stir-fry’s, pasta dishes or as a side to your meal. Fresh fruit, on the other hand, is great and super convenient to have as a snack throughout the day or in a smoothie for breakfast. Like we said; easy, delicious and great for your body!
Quality Protein
Protein is an essential nutrient for our bodies that should make up around 20% of our daily food intake. Quality forms of protein are foods that are low in saturated fat and sodium, ensuring they don’t increase your blood pressure over time. Some great examples of lean protein include:
- Seafood such as salmon and prawns
- Cuts of chicken
- Turkey
- Lean steak
- Eggs
For those choosing a lower meat diet, there are also a huge range of healthy, blood pressure-friendly options for those who like to limit or completely avoid eating meat. This includes
- Beans
- Quinoa
- Tofu
- Nuts
Whatever you prefer, working any of these foods into your diet is a great way to enrich your body with amazing nutrients.
The right High Blood Pressure Diet for you
If you suffer from high blood pressure or want to safeguard yourself from this problem in the future, taking control of your diet is key.
However, it can be hard to know exactly what you should be eating and in what quantities. The truth is that every person is different, and their ideal diet should be based on their particular lifestyle and health.
This is where Fuel Your Life comes in. Our tailored plans help you to achieve ultimate health and wellness by specially formulating a nutrition plan for you. We personalise your plan to match your lifestyle, personal tastes and health needs, ensuring you can give your body the best chance at thriving naturally.
Get in touch with us today to learn more about how we can help you improve or prevent the effects of hypertension.
