Foods that can raise your blood pressure

Knowledge is power, they say, and knowing about the foods that raise blood pressure immediately can be vital health information. There is an increasing body of research that suggests that foods high in sodium or salt rapidly increase blood pressure.

Let’s take a look at some of the foods you should avoid to keep your blood pressure under control. While diet is an important factor in blood pressure control, stress-free living with plenty of exercise is also important. Each person is different so talk to your doctor for advice on the best diet and exercise regime for you.

What Kind of Food Can Raise Blood Pressure?

Unfortunately, it is likely that some of your favorite meals include foods that raise blood pressure quickly. Tyramine is an amino acid found in certain foods that can also quickly raise blood pressure. Foods that contain tyramine include processed or cured meats such as salami, matured cheeses, and sourdough bread. Many of these foods are found in ready-made sandwiches.

Coffee is often reported by many as a drink that causes rapid hypertension.

Food to avoid

Foods containing refined carbohydrates like white bread and pasta should be viewed as a treat, rather than as staples. You should also avoid canned soups, which may be convenient but are foods that can rapidly increase blood pressure. Canned beans and canned tomatoes are also likely to contain the salt and sodium you don’t need.

It’s also a good idea to limit foods that raise blood sugar levels such as cakes, sugary cereals, and donuts. Such foods also help you gain weight, which places an added burden on the heart. High blood sugar levels are associated with increased “bad” cholesterol which can lead to blocked arteries that cause hypertension.

Most food already contains some salt so don’t add it to your food. And avoid the temptation of pouring ketchup or other salt- or sodium-laden sauces and condiments on your food.

Foods high in saturated or trans fats such as French fries should be avoided. At the same time reduce your intake of red meat and dairy products. All these are foods that raise blood pressure in the longer term.

Coffee can raise blood pressure rapidly

Drinks to avoid include coffee, alcoholic beverages, energy drinks, and sodas. The caffeine in coffee raises blood pressure quickly so perhaps try decaffeinated coffee instead or stop drinking it.

Also be aware that black tea contains caffeine so don’t drink too much or go for calming and relaxing herbal teas, such as chamomile, peppermint, lemon balm.

Heavy meals can also affect your blood pressure

Dining out with friends is great for mental health and a laugh, but don’t go for huge meals. Research suggests heavy meals can lead to hypertension, put extra strain on the heart, and can lead to heart attacks. Also, heavy meals are more likely to contain foods that raise blood pressure. So, avoid overeating.

Things like pizza, white bread, some of Chinese takeaways and sodium-rich pickles may taste great but they have this downside too.

Low blood pressure can be caused by a variety of factors, including medication side effects and conditions like diabetes. What you eat also has a notable impact on your heart health and blood pressure. Here are eight diet tips that might help raise your blood pressure back up to a healthy level.

Here’s What To Eat To Help Raise Low Blood Pressure:

Drink Plenty of Fluids

When you’re dehydrated, your blood volume is reduced, which causes your blood pressure to decrease. Most doctors recommend drinking at least two liters (roughly eight glasses) of water every day. Your water intake should be higher in hot weather or while exercising.

Eat Salty Foods

Foods with high salt content can elevate your blood pressure. Good sources of salt include olives, cottage cheese, and canned soup or tuna. You can also add table salt or sea salt to your meals, depending on your preference.

Drink Caffeine

Beverages like coffee and caffeinated tea cause an increase in heart rate and a temporary spike in blood pressure. This effect is usually short-term, and caffeine intake does not affect everybody’s blood pressure the same way. If you’re a regular coffee drinker, you may also develop a higher tolerance for its effects on the vascular system.

Boost Your B12 Intake

Vitamin B12 performs a critical role in helping the body produce healthy red blood cells. Lack of this important vitamin can result in anemia, which lowers blood pressure and can result in excessive bleeding as well as organ and nerve damage. Foods that are rich in vitamin B12 include eggs, chicken, fish like salmon and tuna, and low-fat dairy products.

Fill Up On Folate

Folate (also known as Vitamin B9) is another essential vitamin found in foods such as asparagus, broccoli, liver, and legumes such as lentils and chickpeas. A folate deficiency can have many of the same symptoms as a Vitamin B12 deficiency, causing anemia which leads to lowered blood pressure.

Cut Back On Carbs

Foods that are high in carbohydrates, particularly processed carbs, tend to digest very quickly relative to other foods. This can lead to sudden drops in blood pressure. A low-carb diet has been shown in some studies to help with off-setting hypotension, especially in older adults.

Reduce Meal Size

When you eat a large meal, it takes your body a lot more energy to digest it, which can send your blood pressure plunging. This is particularly a problem for breakfast-skippers and intermittent fasters – skipping meals can frequently lead to over-eating later to compensate. Even if you’re not reducing the overall amount that you’re eating, having smaller meals throughout the day is healthier for both your digestion and blood flow.

Easy On The Alcohol

Among its many negative health effects, drinking alcohol dehydrates you, which lowers your blood pressure by reducing your blood volume. Imbibe responsibly when you do drink. Try to have a glass of water after each alcoholic beverage in order to avoid dehydration.

Maintaining normal blood pressure is so important to the health of your heart and arteries, and it’s important to stay on top of your levels so you can make appropriate changes before health problems occur. If you have normal blood pressure, you should still try to get it checked at least once every year or two. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms of low blood pressure, please contact one of our expert cardiologists and we can help you craft a plan to avoid future issues.

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Meet Manhattan Cardiology

Amnon (Ami) Beniaminovitz, MD, FACC, FASE, CBNC, RPVI is a multi board-certified cardiologist, with a special focus on cardiovascular diseases, imaging, and nuclear cardiology. His credentials include board certifications in Nuclear Cardiology by the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology (ASNC), Echocardiography and Stress Echocardiography by... Learn More »