Changing what you eat can have a major effect on your blood pressure. And it’s necessary to focus both on what IS in your diet, as well as what’s NOT in your diet. We’ve all heard that the healthy diet includes limiting fats and simple carbohydrates such as sugar. But did you know there’s a toxin hidden in many foods that actually causes high blood pressure? It’s true. But more about that later.
Obesity & High Blood Pressure
The connection between obesity and hypertension is well known.
U.S. Obesity Statistics
Women, 35.3% of American women were overweight in 2005-2006. Men, 33.3% of American men were overweight in 2005-2006. Children and adolescents ages 2 to 19, 16.3% were obese in 2003-2006.
Obesity increases blood pressure and makes it more difficult to control hypertension. It increases your risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, some cancers and arthritis. It also causes gallstones, sleep apnea and osteoarthritis. Losing excess weight can result in a reduction of harmful lipids such as cholesterol, triglycerides, monoglycerides and phospholipids.
Facts on Fat
Fat is necessary for the production of cell membranes and eicosanoids (hormone-like compounds). Eicosanoids regulate blood pressure, heart rate, blood clotting and the nervous system. Fat also transports fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K into the body. However, eating too many high-fat foods leads to weight gain and obesity.
It’s best to keep your saturated fat consumption to a minimum, less than seven percent of total daily calories. Sources of saturated fat are: meat, whole milk, butter, cheese and eggs, as well as foods made with lard, solid shortenings, palm oil and coconut oil.
AVOID trans fats found mostly in processed foods such as pastries, donuts, fried chicken, french fries, chips, cookies and crackers as well as most ‘fried’ fast foods. Trans fats are also found in ‘partially hydrogenated’ vegetable oil and shortening.
Healthy fats
Monounsaturated fat remains liquid at room temperature and solidifies in the refrigerator. Food sources include olive, peanut, sesame and canola oil, avocados and most nuts.
Polyunsaturated fat remains liquid at room temperature and in the refrigerator. Sources include vegetable oils, such as safflower, sunflower, corn, soy and cottonseed. However, depending on how they’re processed, soy and corn oil could contain the toxin that causes high blood pressure.
Omega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fats found in fatty, cold-water fish, such as salmon, mackerel and herring. Omega-3 fatty acids are also found in flaxseeds, flax oil, walnuts, and in smaller amounts in soybean and canola oils. Studies indicate omega-3 fatty acids decrease the risk of coronary artery disease as well as protect against irregular heart rhythm and help lower blood pressure.
Diets in North America and Israel typically contain too much omega-6 in relation to omega-3 fatty acids. This combination is believed to cause long-term diseases such as heart disease, cancer, arthritis, asthma, and depression. The ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 should be 4:1; however, it is up to 30:1 in a typical US diet.
Refined Sugar
Sugar has NO nutritional value and robs the body of minerals and vitamins. It can cause symptoms of vitamin-B-deficiency such as cognitive deficits, heart palpitations, arrhythmia, chronic fatigue, nervousness, ADD (attention deficiency disorder), inability to concentrate, irritability, insomnia and restlessness. Refined sugar also elevates blood pressure in some individuals, as well as creating blood-sugar imbalances. It weakens the immune system and causes growth in tumors and cancer cells.
A nutritious diet is critical to everyone’s health. But you’ll also need to read the food labels; along with unhealthy fats and sugars, there are toxins hidden in processed foods. Knowing what is and isn’t in your diet is necessary to improve your health and reduce or eliminate high blood pressure.
P.S. If you enjoyed reading this article, you can find more health related information at http://HighBloodPressureEliminated.comEd McDaniel exposes the toxin that is the major cause of high blood pressure and many other health problems, a toxin that’s been hidden for more than 50 years. He discovered how to eliminate his essential hypertension with simple lifestyle changes and a high blood pressure diet. You can too.Learn more about these lifestyle changes and the hidden toxin and receive the free 62-page report, 7 Simple Steps to Slow the Aging Process And Live a Healthier and Longer Life! by visiting http://HighBloodPressureEliminated.com(c) Copyright – Ed McDaniel. All Rights Reserved Worldwide.
