Hypertension & nutrition

High blood pressure, also called hypertension, means the pressure in your arteries is above the normal range.

Excessive intake of saturated fatty acids and trans fatty acids, along with higher consumption of salt and sugar, are risk factors for cardiovascular diseases including hypertension.

Healthy diet contributes to reduction of hypertension through limiting sodium intake, managing weight, limiting alcohol and increasing consumption of vegetable, fruit, whole grain and low-fat dairy products.

Being overweight or obese increases your risk of developing high blood pressure. In fact, your blood pressure rises as your body weight increases. Losing even 5 kilos can lower your blood pressure—and losing weight has the biggest effect on those who are overweight and already have hypertension.

A blood pressure level of 140/90 mmHg or higher is considered high. About two-thirds of people over age 65 have high blood pressure. If your blood pressure is between 120/80 mmHg and 139/89 mmHg, then you have prehypertension. This means that you don’t have high blood pressure now but are likely to develop it in the future unless you adopt the healthy lifestyle.