Do you believe that the food you eat or your diet may have an impact on your blood pressure? Certain foods have the potential to either raise or lower blood pressure. Diet and blood pressure are related to each other, says Dr. Dinesh Sehgal, the best interventional cardiologist in Hisar at Sapra Multispecialty Hospital.
Both good and bad diets can affect heart functioning. High blood pressure or heart disease can be ignited by a poor diet regime. A bad diet is one that is high in sugar, salt, and fats. Taking a proper diet or a good diet can lower high cholesterol, blood pressure, blood sugar, and insulin levels, prevent obesity, and enhance heart and blood vessel functioning, lessen your risk of heart disease in a variety of ways.
You must follow a good diet or avoid some bad diet habits to maintain good heart health. What all you should avoid are given below:
1. Refined and processed grains and carbohydrates: White bread, white rice, low-fiber morning cereals, sweets, and sugars are examples of refined or processed meals that are bad for the heart. They are not good because these foods lose their inherent structure during preparation or processing. Any food that has been processed frequently contains a lot of unhealthier elements, especially transfats, salt, and sweets. So, one should occasionally consume refined or processed meals.
2. Beverages: Sodas and sugary beverages just like refined and processed meals are bad for your heart. Soft drinks also cause an increase in body weight in addition to having an impact on blood pressure and heart rate.
3. Processed or red meat: Eating bacon, chicken, sausage, red meat, or pig increases your risk of developing high levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or bad cholesterol. They contain a lot of salt, which raises your blood pressure and strains your heart. High salt intake can cause heart failure, heart disease, and stroke.
4. Foods that are deep-fried including French fries, fried chicken, and fried snacks also raise the risk of heart disease. Transfats, a type of fat that can raise bad cholesterol and diminish good cholesterol, is produced when food is fried.
5. Baked goods like cookies, cakes, and muffins should be consumed in moderation. They include a lot of added sugar, which can cause heart disease and weight gain. The primary ingredient, white flour, has the potential to raise blood sugar levels and, as a result, blood pressure.
6. Alcohol consumption can cause weight gain, high blood pressure, heart failure, and strokes. So don’t start drinking if you don’t already.
These are a few of the foods that make up a poor diet, and staying away from them can prevent heart attacks and high blood pressure. Consume a balanced diet that is rich in whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, and also reduce your salt and sugar intake. Incorporate regular exercise for 30 minutes.
By following a few of the steps given above, heart-related diseases, high blood pressure, and stroke-like conditions can be prevented to occur at the early stage.