9 Worst Foods That Cause High Blood Pressure | VisitJoy

Hello friends. Table salt is not the only stuff to blame for high blood pressure; even seemingly innocuous things can cause high blood pressure! Go through the video to believe it; I have learned about it the hard way.

Added Sugar Well, added sugar such as in high-fructose corn syrup or candy can raise your blood pressure. People habituated to added sugar in their food may experience a significant rise in both the upper and lower values of their blood pressure readings. One 24-ounce soft drink can cause a rise in the upper value of blood pressure by an average of 15 points and 9 points in the lower number.

Scientists at Otago University in New Zealand have concluded through a trial that sugar can independently impact lipids as well as blood pressure. Potassium Deficient Diet Does your diet lack in potassium? According to research conducted by the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas, the sustained low potassium level in the diet may be as harmful as high sodium level when it comes to high blood pressure, especially among African Americans.

If you are not having enough fruits like banana or veggies like beans and others, fish, low-fat dairy, broccoli, water chestnuts, spinach or other leafy greens, you are following a low potassium diet. Your diet may be responsible for high blood pressure. Herbal Supplements Ginkgo, ginseng, ephedra, bitter orange, St.

John's wort et al are very effective herbal supplements for various purposes, but there is a problem. These supplements can raise blood pressure and also change how high blood pressure medications can work. According to a study published online by the Mayo clinic, these herbal supplements can cause a rise in blood pressure.

Licorice Root Licorice root is definitely beneficial for gastrointestinal problems owing to its immune-boosting and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the consumption of licorice root can raise blood pressure significantly. It can also bring down potassium levels significantly.

The reason is glycyrrhizinic acid which is found in Licorice root. This compound sets off a chain of reactions resulting in low potassium levels in the body and consequently high blood pressure. So, if you suffer from chronic cough and are in the habit of sucking on licorice lozenges regularly, you need to be wary of high blood pressure.

Coffee and Energy Drnks Caffeine, the primary element of coffee, can raise blood pressure considerably. Caffeine may block adenosine, the hormone that is responsible for keeping the blood vessels dilated to ensure a smooth flow of blood. Another theory suggests that caffeine may force the adrenal glands to release more adrenaline.

This, in turn, may cause a rise in blood pressure. It is not just coffee that contains caffeine. Even energy drinks may contain high levels of caffeine along with added sugar.

Frozen Fish and Seafood There is no doubt that seafood is definitely healthy. It contains omega-3 fatty acids, a healthy class of fatty acids. However, seafood such as fresh shrimp also contains an appreciable amount of sodium.

Frozen fish too is brined in a salt solution to make it last longer. So, you need to eat less frozen fish and seafood to avoid high blood pressure. Shrimp is high in sodium and cholesterol; crab and lobster are high in sodium, shellfish is high in cholesterol as well as sodium.

All these can raise blood pressure and also result in heart diseases. Pickles Preserving food requires salt as it can stop food from decaying. However, the longer a vegetable stays in salt the more sodium it picks up.

This is why a medium-sized pickle may contain 80 mg of sodium. A whole dill pickle spear may have about 390 mg of sodium. So, the pickle that you love so much may add extra sodium to your diet and raise your blood pressure.

However, low-sodium options are also available. Sauces and Condiments People often use condiments such as steak sauce, ketchup, barbeque sauce, soy sauce, and salad dressings to make up for salt or butter. However, ingredients of these condiments contain a lot of salt.

Even the white and red sauces served in Italian dishes include a lot of salt. In some preparations sauce is used extensively for the gravy. If you go for the gravy, you are stoking your blood pressure.

So even if you love sauces, you need to restrict the amounts. Alcohol Studies point out that taking more than 3 drinks a day can raise blood pressure temporarily. However, binge drinking can have a lasting effect on blood pressure.

In a study published in the journal Atherosclerosis, scientists have reported that binge drinking can stoke the development of atherosclerosis. The deposition of plaque in the walls of arteries and their consequent narrowing is known as atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis can enhance blood pressure.

Binge drinking can also cause sustained low potassium levels in the body. This too can raise blood pressure as seen earlier. A sudden spike in blood pressure may not be as harmful as sustained high blood pressure.

Sustained high blood pressure can damage various organs of the body. You need to keep a watch on your blood pressure lest it should damage your eyes, heart or other organs. The best thing is to keep a watch on the food you eat.

Many foodstuffs that may lead to high blood pressure. You need to consume less amount of such food. There is even some stuff that may seem to be completely unrelated but can cause blood pressure to rise.

NSAIDs and nasal decongestants are examples of these. However, these usually cause temporary spikes. What you need to be really concerned about are foods that may sustain your blood pressure consistently at a high level.

Did you ever know that such a beneficial herb like licorice can raise your blood pressure? Or have you ever imagined that sauces and condiments can raise blood pressure? Yet, these are the surprising foods that can raise your blood pressure.