There are many foods we eat every day without being aware of their impact on us. Eating healthy is more than just cutting out junk food. When you look closer, many of these everyday foods have a significant effect on your health. Most of the foods that cause high blood pressure are already in your kitchen!
It is not easy to keep track of what is healthy for your body and what is not. From blood pressure problems to reduced energy levels, these little problems can add up quickly. Avoiding these ten sneaky regular foods will make it easier to live a healthy lifestyle.
1. Bottled pasta sauces
It is usually more convenient to just add a bottled pasta sauce instead of having to make it all. But this convenience comes at a price. Salt is the only way these companies can preserve the sauce, so it’s no surprise that they are all high in sodium.
Salt is not the only cause of high blood pressure. Most pasta sauces contain hidden sugars. Sugar can make your blood vessels stiff over time. Don’t be too surprised if you start to notice blood pressure problems if you use these sauces too regularly. Sometimes putting in the extra effort for a homemade sauce can be worth it in the long run.
2. Canned soups
Soups are everyone’s favorite food when they are sick. Canned soups may be easier to get your hands on, but they aren’t as good for you as they seem. One can of soup can easily contain 600 mg to 1200 mg of salt. That’s more salt than you should consume all day.
It may seem like an extra effort, but making your own soup is much healthier in the long run. Your blood pressure and heart will thank you. If that still seems too difficult, you can try finding canned soups labeled “no salt added.”
3. Salad dressings
Salads are always considered healthy, especially if you try to maintain them track your calories. While salads may be great, store-bought salad dressings are the exact opposite. Two tablespoons of ranch dressing alone contain more than 300 mg of salt. Many cream-based dressings contain salt and unhealthy oils. These bandages can increase your blood pressure and clog your blood vessels.
It’s healthier to make your own dressings, and it doesn’t take long at all! All you need is some olive oil and vinegar. Add a few spices and herbs, and your blood pressure will thank you later.
4. Processed meat and meat products
Who doesn’t enjoy a tasty turkey sandwich at the end of a long day? It may seem like a treat at the moment, but your blood pressure may think otherwise. This meat is heavily salted to keep it fresh. 60 grams of meat alone can contain 500 mg to 700 mg of salt and tons of saturated fat.
Processed meats can impact your weight loss journey, heart health and blood pressure. No organ is safe from the side effects. It takes work to cook meat at home, but your body is worth that work.
5. Cheese
The cheesier the better, right? Cheeses are actually incredibly high in sodium. The result is that your body retains extra water, which increases blood pressure. The more the cheese is processed, the saltier it is likely to be.
Cheese may not taste salty, but eating it in large quantities can raise your blood pressure. Some packaged cheese snacks are even more dangerous because of the extra fat they contain. The deadly combination of saturated fats and salts causes blood pressure to rise and the arteries to stiffen.
6. Frozen dinners
There’s nothing more convenient than frozen dinners. It’s not easy having to cook every day. But once you see their sodium content, you may start to reconsider your frozen dinners. Some frozen meals can contain more than half a day’s worth of sodium in one serving alone!
The amount of salt added to these meals is intended to preserve flavor. Chances are that the better the meal tastes, the more salt it contains. Most of these meals are also low in potassium, an important nutrient that helps your body maintain stable blood pressure. Instead, try meal prep for a week so you never have to rely on frozen meals!
7. Restaurant food
Because salt enhances all flavors, it’s no surprise that restaurants use a lot of it. It doesn’t matter how healthy your restaurant order is; it still contains more salt than any home-cooked meal. After you eat at restaurants a few too many times, you’ll notice spikes in your blood pressure more often.
Don’t worry, you don’t have to stop eating out completely. Instead, don’t be afraid to ask the restaurant to make changes to your meals. Ask them not to add extra salt and to tell you how they prepare their food so you can make informed decisions.
8. Instant noodles
Who doesn’t love a pack of instant noodles as a late-night snack? Surprisingly, instant noodles are a convenience food with one of the highest sodium levels. Their seasoning packets alone can contain up to 1800 mg of sodium! These late-night snacks can ruin your blood pressure.
Whether you make them fried or boiled, neither method makes them less healthy. When boiling, the stock absorbs all the salt. With every spoonful of noodles and broth you only get salt. Deep frying adds unhealthy fats to the salt, which can affect your health in a worse way. The best solution is to simply not have them at all.
9. Breakfast cereal
Many children are used to starting their day with breakfast cereal. But what they don’t realize is that they may be setting these children up for blood pressure problems in the future. Some breakfast cereals contain up to 300 mg of salt per bowl. Imagine having that much salt every day, first thing in the morning!
Milk also contains salt, so adding it to breakfast cereal will only make things worse for your blood pressure. Be sure to check grain labels carefully before purchasing so you can choose products with less than 140 mg of salt. Even better: try replacing cereal with oatmeal
10. Pickled foods
Have you ever wondered how pickles last so long? Traditional pickling uses salt as the main preservative for long shelf life. Eating pickles with every meal can weaken your body’s ability to balance fluids. This results in an increased risk of long-term high blood pressure.
Even small servings of pickles can increase your body’s sodium intake if taken regularly. A good alternative to pickles is vinegar and fresh herbs such as dill, which can provide a similar flavor without all the salt.
Final thoughts
These foods may not seem scary or threatening on their own, but their effects can slowly add up when combined. Most health problems can be addressed with diet rather than medications. To do that, you need to be informed and aware of the side effects of what you consume.
Regularly eating foods high in sodium puts more pressure on your blood vessels. A diet high in sodium will prepare you for a life of blood pressure problems. By removing these meals from your daily routine, you are making a conscious effort to be kinder to your body.
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