high blood pressure

rinabean

One thing I know that's good for blood pressure is bananas! They are a good source of potassium, they're good for you generally, and they're cheap and filling. I don't know of anything else, sorry, the problems in my family are more blood sugar than blood pressure.

foxgloves

See if you can get a book on cooking to help high blood pressure from the library. These sort of recipe books exist to help all sorts of different conditions. Might give you some advice on what to eat & some inspiration too.

wannabeasupersaver

Pretani wrote: »

sounds like you need a blood pressure tablet, as you're still hooked to the bad foods. Unless you change your diet, you'll be relying on tablets the rest of your life

That would be why I am looking into coming up with new meals/foods that are good for lowering BP. Don't want the tablets so diet (and excercise) are the ways forward. It's not that I am still 'hooked' on the bad food, I only found out on Thursday night that my BP was high so this was me starting to do something about it.:D

wannabeasupersaver

Thanks to everyone for their replies :j Think your responses are enough to get me started :T

OrkneyStar

wannabeasupersaver wrote: »

That would be why I am looking into coming up with new meals/foods that are good for lowering BP. Don't want the tablets so diet (and excercise) are the ways forward. It's not that I am still 'hooked' on the bad food, I only found out on Thursday night that my BP was high so this was me starting to do something about it.:D

Sometimes, despite a good diet, not being overweight, getting exercise etc you can still gave high blood pressure. It is great you are making positive health changes but trust your doctors advice on weather you need a tablet/tablets as well in the longer term. All the best x

lovetopaint

Hi, I empathise as recently in the same boat. I am slowly looking at my whole diet and the most useful info for me on diet has been the nhs site. Here is a link to the page on salt if interested:
http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/Goodfood/Pages/salt.aspx

Truly understanding food labels regarding sugar levels, saturated fat levels and salt has been an education for me. I thought I knew about healthy eating before but didn't really until recently. Things like cottage cheese, mozzarella, natural yoghurt (nice with tinned peaches, pears or any fresh fruit), shredded wheat, porridge, plus loads more fruit and veg have appeared in my diet these days. Most sauces in jars I have found to be too high in salt, so am aiming to prepare batches of homemade tomato sauces, curry sauces, white sauce made with cornflour etc for the freezer. Preparation has been the greatest ally. I won't go on, but hang in there, you will get there with your own preferences.

Alison_Funnell

Considering a lot of people with hypertension can also have raised cholesterol I agree with OrkneyStar, talk to your GP, take their advice (after all they spent 7+ years training to give you such advice) and discuss if they will refer you to a dietician to look over what you currently eat and highlight problem areas.

wannabeasupersaver

Been to the docs which is how I know about the blood pressure. We are trying the food/ exercise/ weight loss thing first as its not very high at the moment and these are all areas I can improve as I haven't been healthy living for a long while. Don't want the meds- not to say I wont have them if all else fails, but have a lot to try before then :-)

twink

i was on a BP project for two years with our GP practice we took our own blood pressure twice a day two times a week what i found lowered my BP was oily fish, tesco do two herrings in oatmeal for about a pound, beetroot and dark chocolate with a high cocoa content, i drink decaffeinated tea as i found caffeine put my BP up for quite a while after drinking it

wannabeasupersaver

Been back to docs and BP has dropped :-) Just need to keep at it! Thanks for all the advice :-)