​​​​High Blood Pressure: 3 Foods to Avoid (2024)

High blood pressure (hypertension) can be lowered by making healthier food choices. The Singapore General Hospital (SGH) Dietetics Department, shares the types of foods to avoid for high blood pressure.

High blood pressure complications can be avoided

You have high blood pressure, or hypertension, if your blood pressure reading is persistently 140/90 mm Hg or higher. If left unchecked, hypertension can cause stroke, heart attack and kidney failure, amongst other complications.

Some risk factors for high blood pressure, such as age and family history, cannot be controlled. However, many other factors can be managed. For example, you can change your food choices.

8 in 10 Singaporeans eat too much salt!

According to the Health Promotion Board (HPB), as many as eight out of 10 Singaporeans are consuming more than the daily recommended allowance of 2,000mg of sodium. “That’s about 1 teaspoon of salt, or 5g, but Singaporeans are consuming 8.3g of salt on average,” says Mr Gary Chiah, Senior Dietitian at the Department of Dietetics, Singapore General Hospital(SGH), a member of the SingHealth group.

Indeed, it’s all too easy to consume too much salt when eating out in Singapore. The tasty gravies, curries, soups and sauces added to your plate of rice and noodles are often high in salt and should be avoided. But beyond cutting out excess sodium, there are also other ways you can tweak your diet to better control or reduce your risk of hypertension.

3 Foods to avoid for high blood pressure

  1. Sodium (Salt)

  • When eating out, ask for no or less gravy with your economy rice. Also, have less soups, dipping sauces and creamy salad dressings.
  • Avoid canned foods and soups as they tend to contain lots of sodium. Canned beans for example, can contain as much as 500mg of sodium per serving. However, there are some canned foods with lower sodium content. Look out for foods that come with the healthier choice logo.
  • Frozen peas and pasteurized milk are f​ine, but potato chips, processed meats (bacon, ham, luncheon meat) and froz​en dinners are all too high in sodium.
  • Alcohol

  • Too much alcohol will raise your blood pressure. HPB recommends that women should have a maximum of two standard drinks per day. Men can have up to three drinks per day. A standard drink refers to 2/3 of a small can of regular beer (220ml), a small glass of wine (100ml) or one nip of spirit (30ml).​

  • Fatty foods (High in saturated fats)

  • ​Hypertension (high blood pressure) is likely to happen when you're overweight. Asians should aim for a healthy BMI of 18.5 to 22.9 and keep their waistline trim. Asian men with a waist circumference over 91 cm and Asian women with a waistline over 81 cm have a higher risk of hypertension.

    One good way to lose weight is to reduce your fat intake. One gram of fat contains 9 calories. Carbohydrates and protein contain less than half these calories. Therefore, you can reduce your calorie intake by cutting down on deep fried foods, cream and pastries.

    ​​It’s especially important to reduce saturated fats which increase the risk of clog arteries. Saturated fats are found in red meat, full-fat dairy products and oils rich in saturated fat e.g. coconut oil. Choose fish, lean cuts of meat, skinless poultry and low-fat milk instead.

    Read on for good foods that lower high blood pressure.

    Ref: S13

    Check out our other articles on high blood pressure (hypertension):

    Hypertension: Understanding Blood Pressure Ranges

    High Blood Pressure: Top 5 Myths

    High Blood Pressure: 5 Ways to Lower It Without Medication

    4 Effective Exercises to Reduce High Blood Pressure

    How High Blood Pressure Affects Men and Women Differently

    Pre-Hypertension: How to Know If You Have It

    ​​​​High Blood Pressure: 3 Foods to Avoid (2024)

    FAQs

    ​​​​High Blood Pressure: 3 Foods to Avoid? ›

    Beans, tomatoes, mushrooms, and avocado are other potassium-rich foods that may help lower blood pressure naturally.

    What are the 5 worst foods for blood pressure? ›

    5 bad-news foods for blood pressure
    1. – Grapefruit juice. Grapefruit contains compounds that may interfere with how your body absorbs some drugs, including some blood pressure medicines. ...
    2. – Black licorice. ...
    3. Processed meats. ...
    4. – Sugary drinks. ...
    5. – Baked goods.
    Jun 6, 2017

    What foods raise blood pressure the most? ›

    Worst Foods for High Blood Pressure
    • Restaurant Food. 1/12. The shrimp fried rice at your favorite spot might be amazing, but it's likely full of sodium. ...
    • Frozen Meals. 2/12. They're fast and convenient. ...
    • Salty Snacks. 3/12. ...
    • Pickled Foods and Their Juices. 4/12. ...
    • Bread. 5/12. ...
    • Soup. 6/12. ...
    • Tomato Juice and Sauces. 7/12. ...
    • Processed Meat. 8/12.
    Aug 26, 2023

    What are 3 foods to reduce blood pressure? ›

    Beans, tomatoes, mushrooms, and avocado are other potassium-rich foods that may help lower blood pressure naturally.

    What drink lowers BP fast? ›

    What beverage choices might help lower blood pressure?
    • Apple juice. A recent scientific review showed that drinking apple juice in moderation provides heart-healthy advantages. ...
    • Beet juice. ...
    • Milk (low-fat or fat-free) ...
    • Pomegranate juice. ...
    • Water.
    Feb 14, 2024

    Are eggs bad for high blood pressure? ›

    Eggs don't have a direct impact on blood pressure, Dr. Hausvater adds—for example, eating a couple eggs won't cause a surge upward or a sudden downward dip—but they may have an indirect effect because they contain potassium and calcium, which contribute to lower blood pressure.

    How can I bring my BP down quickly? ›

    How to lower your blood pressure immediately without medication
    1. A 60-second trick to lower blood pressure immediately is to take a deep breath and try to relax. ...
    2. Drink some water. ...
    3. Try some mild physical activity. ...
    4. Eat some dark chocolate. ...
    5. Take a cold shower. ...
    6. Get some sun. ...
    7. Drink beetroot and apple juice.
    Apr 1, 2024

    What is the number one fruit to lower blood pressure? ›

    The top fruits for lowering blood pressure include bananas, apples, pears, apricots, grapes, raisins, kiwis, mangoes, watermelon, pomegranate, plums, prunes, avocado, cantaloupe, honeydew melon, tomatoes, citrus fruit, berries, and more.

    Is banana good for high blood pressure? ›

    Bananas are a nutritious and tasty option for helping lower blood pressure. Loaded with essential nutrients like potassium, fiber and vitamin C, bananas offer several benefits for cardiovascular health. Their potassium content counterbalances sodium intake, promoting blood vessel relaxation.

    What are good snacks for high blood pressure? ›

    Instead of snacking on chips or sweets, eat unsalted pretzels or nuts, raisins, low-fat and fat-free yogurt, frozen yogurt, unsalted plain popcorn with no butter, and raw vegetables. Read food labels to choose low-sodium products.

    Does drinking water lower blood pressure? ›

    And does dehydration cause high blood pressure? Drinking water can help normalize your blood pressure but doesn't necessarily lower your blood pressure unless you are dehydrated. Because your blood is made up of 90% water, the overall volume will decrease when you are dehydrated.

    What should I drink in the morning if I have high blood pressure? ›

    There are a range of drinks that may help lower a person's blood pressure in the morning. If a person with hypertension usually drinks coffee or sugary juice in the morning, it may be beneficial for them to swap it for beetroot juice, unsalted tomato juice, green tea, or unsweetened pomegranate juice.

    What not to drink with high BP? ›

    Cut down on caffeine

    Drinking more than 4 cups of coffee a day may increase your blood pressure. If you're a big fan of coffee, tea or other caffeine-rich drinks, such as cola and some energy drinks, consider cutting down.

    What is the best breakfast for high blood pressure? ›

    Hypertension: Breakfast options for high blood pressure
    1. Oats. Advertisem*nt. ...
    2. Yogurt with fruits. Yogurt is another healthy option that is good for high blood pressure. ...
    3. Egg. When it comes to breakfast eggs might be the first thing that comes up. ...
    4. Nuts, seeds and low-fat dairy. ...
    5. Banana and berries.
    Oct 11, 2019

    What is the number one thing that raises blood pressure? ›

    There is too much sodium in our food supply, we are not getting enough physical activity, we are gaining too much weight, and we are drinking too much alcohol, and every single one of those things contributes to increasing blood pressure levels. To stay on top of your blood pressure, take your measurements often.

    What not to drink with high blood pressure? ›

    Here are some drinks that you may need to limit or avoid if you have high blood pressure:
    • Soda. Most soft drinks are loaded with added sugar, which could significantly increase your risk of heart disease and high blood pressure.
    • Sweetened beverages. ...
    • Energy drinks. ...
    • Alcohol.

    Can I eat a hamburger with high blood pressure? ›

    In most cases, a diet high in salt will result in high blood pressure. Red meats such as beef, pork and lamb are also known to trigger an increase in levels. It is best to limit and choose a leaner protein such as fish or chicken.

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