Nutritionist names the drinks to limit for lower blood pressure – and the best fruit juices to swap them with
For those who have high blood pressure, one of the best tools to manage this is your diet.
An expert spoke exclusively to GB News about the food and drink choices that play a vital role in maintaining healthy blood pressure.
Nutritionist at Vitality Health Insurance, James Vickers, explained that your diet can both increase and decrease your blood pressure, so it’s important to consider which foods you are consuming.
He encouraged those who are worried about their blood pressure to minimise their alcohol and caffeine intake, introducing apple, tomato and pomegranate juice into their diet instead.
He continued: “Foods that are high in salt, fat and sugar can cause an increase in blood pressure.”
The expert advised: “Try to reduce salt in your diet to no more than six grams per day and keep an eye out on food labels such as pre-made sauces, condiments and processed foods which can contain added salt, as well as takeaways and ready meals.
“You can also try switching salts with things such as herbs and spices when you cook, to ensure that you don’t miss out on flavour.”
Aside from cutting out salt to help with blood pressure management, James encouraged people to eat foods that are high in nitrates, such as beetroot, spinach, kale, celery, bananas and strawberries.
The nutritionist also encouraged individuals to retain a healthy weight and to focus on foods that are high in fibre instead of sugary carbohydrates.
He said: “Lean protein and low-fat dairy can support with lowering blood pressure and a healthy weight.
“The nutrients in a healthy, balanced diet can contribute to a healthy weight and therefore help to lower blood pressure.”
According to the expert, it’s also important to pay attention to your choice of beverages to manage your blood pressure.
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The expert urged those concerned to avoid a large intake of caffeine and alcohol and monitor how much they are having.
For those seeking more variety, James recommended specific fruit juices known to help lower blood pressure. Apple, tomato and pomegranate juice were all highlighted as beneficial options.
These healthier drinks can be easily incorporated into daily routines as part of an overall strategy for maintaining healthy blood pressure levels.