5 foods that increase blood pressure: What to watch out for

What is normal and low blood pressure

Low blood pressure, also called hypotension, means different things to different people.

Normal blood pressure numbers are usually 120/80 millimeters of mercury (mmHg), but numbers outside this range can also be normal.

A healthy blood pressure level for your body depends on individual characteristics such as

• medical history
• age
• general condition.

However, your doctor may diagnose low blood pressure if your blood pressure is below 90/60 mm Hg and you have other symptoms, including

• blurred vision
• confusion or trouble concentrating
• weakness, dizziness, or fainting
• nausea or vomiting.

What foods raise blood pressure

Eating certain foods and certain habits can help you raise your blood pressure - and likewise, avoiding some of them can normalize high blood pressure, namely:

Drinking enough fluids

This essential habit, surprisingly enough, helps to raise low blood pressure. Dehydration reduces blood volume, which leads to lower blood pressure. Controlling your body's hydration is especially important during exercise.

Foods high in vitamin B12

Too little vitamin B12 can lead to a certain type of anemia, which can cause low blood pressure and fatigue. Foods high in B12 include eggs, fortified cereals, animal meat, and nutritional yeast.

Foods high in folate

Too little folate can also contribute to anemia. Examples of folate-rich foods include asparagus, beans, lentils, citrus fruits, leafy greens, eggs, and liver. Therefore, people with high blood pressure should use these foods with caution.

Salt and salty foods

Salty foods can increase blood pressure. Including smoked fish, cheese, pickled foods, and olives in your diet helps to normalize low blood pressure. However, excessive salt can lead to kidney disease, so you should consult your doctor first.

Caffeinated products

Coffee and tea with caffeine can temporarily increase blood pressure by stimulating the cardiovascular system and speeding up the heartbeat.

How to avoid low blood pressure

Here are a few other habits you can incorporate into your lifestyle to help boost low blood pressure:

• Eat small meals more often. Large meals can cause your blood pressure to drop more dramatically because your body has to work harder to digest more food.
• Drink plenty of water and limit your alcohol intake. Dehydration lowers blood pressure.

However, you should first talk to your doctor or nutritionist about the foods you should include in your diet and the physical activity you can do.

If you suspect that you may have anemia, be sure to visit your doctor for tests to determine the type of anemia and the best treatment options.

Earlier, we wrote about the habits that keep your liver healthy.

This material is for informational purposes only and should not be used for medical diagnosis or self-treatment. Our goal is to provide readers with accurate information about symptoms, causes, and methods of detecting diseases. RBС-Ukraine is not responsible for any diagnoses that readers may make based on materials from the resource. We do not recommend self-treatment and advise consulting a doctor in case of any health concerns.