When someone is considered hypertensive, his blood pressure is ultimately higher than normal. It could be a reading of over 139 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) systolic blood pressure, which represents the pressure of your blood as your heart contracts (beats). Or a reading of over 89 mm Hg diastolic blood pressure, which denotes the pressure of your blood as your heart relaxes (in between beats). Regardless of the number, most medical professionals recommend dietary changes in combination with prescription medication to treat this condition. Not only should you increase the consumption of fruits, vegetables and whole grains, but you also need to avoid certain foods, especially those high in salt or sodium.
Prepackaged Foods
One of the main culprits of salt and sodium are prepackaged foods, so these types of products should be avoided when dealing with hypertension. Canned soups probably contain the most sodium of them all, but you should also pay close attention to canned vegetables, frozen vegetables, meal helpers, frozen meals, frozen pizza and canned or jarred sauces, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Deli Meats
Deli meats can also be laden with sodium. Good indicators that a meat product contains high-sodium content are the words cured, smoked or pickled. Ham, bacon, turkey, chicken, pork, sausage and beef can all be prepared in this fashion, so make sure to read the labels or ask someone at the deli counter to inform you on the sodium content of the meat.
Baked Goods
Though they may not taste salty, many baked goods can contain a great deal of sodium. This is largely due to how they're prepared. Not only is salt used to bring out the sweetness in cookies, brownies, cakes and other pastries or the savory in breads, bagels and other baked goods, but they also contain either baking soda or baking powder. Both substances have added sodium that you may not be aware of.
Condiments
Another problematic source of sodium for people dealing with high blood pressure can be found in condiments. Soy sauce, ketchup, mustard, salad dressing and marinades all have added salt, which can increase your sodium consumption above your recommended daily allowance (RDA) of 2,400 mg per day. And since you're already suffering from hypertension, you really want your sodium intake under 1,500 mg, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Dairy
It's also important to manage the amount of sodium you get from dairy products. Cheese, butter, sour cream and even skim milk contain sodium. Of course, some products have more than others, so you'll need to read the labels to ensure you're not getting more sodium than is recommended.
Fast Food
While this should go without saying, most fast foods contain large quantities of sodium, sometimes in the form of monosodium glutamate (MSG). MSG and salt are fairly cheap "taste-enhancers" that essentially make foods taste better. Avoid eating at almost any fast food chain when you're living with hypertension. Even if you don't currently have high blood pressure, you should only frequent these places sparingly (and use moderation).
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