Having high blood pressure--defined as blood pressure at 140/90 or higher--can damage your blood vessels and increase your risk of stroke, heart disease and heart attacks says FamilyDoctor.org. Ideally, your blood pressure should be at or below 120/80. If it is not, you should take steps to lower your blood pressure. You can make several dietary adjustments, and changing what you drink is just as important as changing what you eat. Drinking healthfully for blood pressure is not so much a matter of making sure your drinks contain certain substances; it's more about making sure they do not contain them.
Step 1
Drink only health drinks with the lowest sodium content. Several health drinks, especially vegetable-based ones, contain a lot of sodium. High sodium consumption is one of the major culprits in high blood pressure. The American Heart Association recommends that you consume less than 1,500 mg of sodium per day. Make it a goal to consume drinks that contain the smallest share of that total as possible.
Step 2
Drink no more than two alcoholic drinks per day if you are a man, and no more than one per day if you are a woman. Drinking alcohol in such moderation can actually lower your blood pressure a little, according to the Mayo Clinic. However, drinking large quantities of alcohol can significantly increase your blood pressure. Of course, you should not start drinking alcohol just to lower your blood pressure, as its negative effects may outweigh the benefits.
Step 3
Choose sugar-free drinks. Weight gain is a risk factor for high blood pressure, and sugary drinks contain a lot of empty calories that can make you gain weight. Cut back on regular soft drinks and fruit drinks. Drinking water or club soda instead of a sugary drink will save you thousands of calories in the long run.
Step 4
Cut back on caffeine. Avoid energy drinks packed with stimulants. The Mayor Clinic recommends that your caffeine intake not exceed 200 mg per day--the caffeine content of approximately two cups of coffee. Your intake should be even less if your blood pressure is high.
