Breakfast foods to avoid with high blood pressure
Illustrative photo (Freepik)
People with high blood pressure should avoid certain breakfast foods that may worsen their condition.
RBC-Ukraine reported on the indicators that signal high blood pressure and how to bring it back to normal.
Signs of high blood pressure
Hypertension is a cardiovascular disease characterized by a systematic increase in blood pressure.
The higher the blood pressure reading, the harder the heart must work. Without proper medical supervision, hypertension can lead to heart attacks, strokes, and heart hypertrophy.
Risk factors for hypertension include:
- Smoking and alcohol consumption
- Unhealthy diet
- Low physical activity and obesity
- Stress
Key symptoms of hypertension include:
- Elevated blood pressure (starting from 140/90)
- Headache
- Periodic ringing in the ears, darkening vision, and dizziness
- Chest pain
- Rapid heartbeat
- Shortness of breath
Breakfast foods to avoid
Experts have revealed four popular breakfast items that should be avoided for those with high blood pressure.
Sugary cereals
Cereals that appear "healthy" might not be the best way to start the day.
These products often claim to be nutritious, containing whole grains. However, that's not entirely accurate.
They are highly processed and contain added sugar. Studies show that a cup of cereal can be equivalent to three chocolate cookies in terms of sugar content.
High sugar levels suppress the production of nitric oxide, which helps dilate the arteries, potentially leading to increased blood pressure.
Muffins
Muffins are delicious, but they contain unhealthy ingredients like refined flour, sugar, and oils.
They are factory-made and have a high concentration of harmful components, making them a significant contributor to obesity.
Refined ingredients in muffins have little to no nutritional value. Due to the high sugar content, they are rapidly absorbed by the body, causing a sharp increase in insulin levels.
Bacon
One of the key components of a full English breakfast, bacon can raise blood pressure. Processed meats like bacon and ham are harmful to health.
These products contain a high concentration of sodium, which can raise blood pressure if consumed regularly.
Waffles
Waffles are made of simple carbohydrates, which are quickly absorbed. The refined ingredients in the flour contribute to obesity and high insulin levels.
Obesity leads to atherosclerosis, narrowing the arterial walls, which results in hypertension. When fatty tissue builds up on arterial walls, the heart has to work harder to pump blood throughout the body.
To prevent high blood pressure, you should:
- Follow a healthy and balanced diet
- Exercise regularly – aim for at least 150 minutes a week
- Lose weight if you are overweight
- Avoid eating too much salt
- Stay away from alcohol
- Limit caffeine consumption.
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.
