High blood pressure is often accompanied by high blood levels of insulin. High insulin levels may cause high blood pressure. High levels of insulin will also make weight loss more difficult. A diet high in carbohydrates may not be ideal for hypertensives, for it will perpetuate high insulin levels. It will also worsen food cravings. Hypertensives who are overweight should restrict carbohydrates-grains, beans, legumes, and fruits - to no more than 40% of their diet in an effort to get their insulin levels back to normal.
HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE PATIENTS ARE often told that they must stay on their medication for life. That's like telling you once your car burns oil, it always will and you should buy more oil every week. There is a conflict of interest.
High blood pressure is unknown in primitive cultures that eat a diet of unprocessed foods. Hypertension is another ailment that we bring upon ourselves with refined grains, sugar, refined oils, margarine, overeating, inactivity, stress, and smoking.
If you are overweight, begin a program of gradual weight loss. Even beginning to lose weight will lower blood pressure. Keeping weight off is one of the most important strategies for controlling blood pressure. Even losing a pound a week is a significant stride in the right direction. In fact, for hypertensives, slow weight loss of one to two pounds a week is ideal. Anything faster may deplete important blood-pressure-regulating minerals such as magnesium and potassium.
Foods that must be eliminated from the diet of hypertensives:
Salty foods or processed foods high in sodium
Caffeinated coffee
Caffeinated tea
Alcohol
Sugar
Margarine and fried foods
Refined white flours and supermarket oils
Stimulants such as ephedra (ma huang) and kola nut
Regular aerobic exercise such as walking can help lower blood pressure. It should be done only with your physician's approval.
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