High Blood Pressure Diet Foods

closeup of the hands of a doctor measuring blood pressure of a patient

Diet remains a critical component of maintaining healthy blood pressure. The right diet, coupled with exercise, can allow even people with high blood pressure to live full and healthy lives.

Maintain a healthy weight

The reason someone with high blood pressure should eat the right foods is to maintain a healthy weight. Many studies have linked obesity, and even living on the heavy side, to high blood pressure. If you are overweight, losing weight is critical to lowering your blood pressure. Sometimes, just watching what you eat can lead to weight loss and lower blood pressure. Other times, it is not enough and a special diet is appropriate.

Maintaining a healthy weight is critical to having healthy blood pressure

The DASH Diet

Researchers have come across a diet that seems to help lower blood pressure significantly. This diet is called the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet. It is important that a person check with their physician before starting any diet, but the DASH diet incorporates the best recommendations from most physicians. The main push of the DASH diet is to eat less sodium, red meat and sweets, and to eat more vegetables, fruit and whole grains. Studies have shown that participants on the DASH diet lowered their blood pressure in as little as two weeks.

Serving Sizes on the DASH Diet

The amount of servings of each food group needed depends on the target calorie intake of the person. On average, someone on the DASH diet should eat seven to eight servings of whole grains a day. They should also eat four to five servings of both fruits and vegetables. Beyond this, a person should eat two to three servings of both meat and dairy a day. A person should also limit fats and oils to two to three servings daily, and limit sugar intake to five servings per week.

The right diet is critical to maintaining healthy blood pressure. The DASH diet is recommended by many physicians as a great way to help lower one's blood pressure and start living a healthy lifestyle.

Researchers have come across a diet that seems to help lower blood pressure significantly