Lisinopril improves blood flow by decreasing certain chemicals that can tighten blood vessels. This clears the arteries and helps the heart pump blood more efficiently. Doctors prescribe lisinopril to treat high blood pressure, a risk factor for heart disease. The drug also works with other medications to treat heart failure and might improve survival after a heart attack, according to the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. The Atkins Diet features high-protein foods that might have high fat content, such as red meat. Consult your doctor about your diet when prescribed lisinopril.
Low Fat and Low Sodium
A recommended diet for high blood pressure or to prevent heart disease includes low-fat and low-sodium foods. The Atkins Diet restricts carbohydrates and emphasizes protein and fats. The diet, created by cardiologist Dr. Robert Atkins, has been touted as a way to lose weight, which might prevent health-related problems such as high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes. Foods from animal fats in the diet might increase the risk of heart-related disorders, but the Atkins Diet takes a healthier approach than it previously did by advocating more high-fiber vegetables and only small amounts of extra salt, according to MayoClinic.com.
Reduced Carbohydrates
The low-carb content of the diet helps regulate blood sugar levels to avoid weight gain and heart problems, the Atkins Diet website says. Complex carbs include bread, pasta and potatoes. Excess amounts of carbs, especially simple carbs such as sugar and white flour, might cause blood sugar imbalances. The diet focuses on eating mostly high-protein foods, which it says forces your body to burn off fat stores without leaving you hungry. As you go through the phases of the diet, you might learn your own carb tolerance.
Diet and Drug Side Effects
The first phase of the diet includes high-protein foods such as eggs, sausage, roast beef and baked salmon along with small amounts of steamed vegetables and allowable beverages, including coffee, tea, water or diet soda. As you cut your carb intake in the first phase of the diet, the Atkins Diet says you might experience side effects that include headache, dizziness, weakness and fatigue. Similar side effects might occur when using lisinopril, making it difficult to determine whether the diet or medication is causing your side effects. More serious side effects from lisinopril, such as difficulty breathing or fever, require immediate medical attention.
Dietary Considerations
Changing your diet with any medication requires that you discuss it first with a health care provider. Lisinopril might affect your blood sugar levels, so getting regular checkups with your doctor helps monitor your levels. A diet for high blood pressure usually means avoiding processed or other high-fat, high-salt meats, according to Dr. Frank Jackson in his recommended diet at the Jackson Siegelbaum Gastroenterology website. Other processed foods often contain high amounts of sodium and should be avoided, including condiments such as ketchup and mustard. If taking lisinopril for high blood pressure or heart-related illness, you might have to concentrate on a diet for your disorder. Your doctor can tell you if practicing the Atkins Diet during this time helps or hurts your particular condition.
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