Diet & Menu for Hypertensive Patients

The National Institutes of Health says that one in three American adults struggles with hypertension. Though medications exist to help control hypertension, you can try to control it with diet changes, too. Eating more whole foods and limiting your intake of saturated fats can help lower your blood pressure.

Diet for Hypertensive Patients

According to the National Institutes of Health, even if your blood pressure readin rises above 120/89 mmHG, it can pose a health risk. They say, though, that a diet low in saturated fat, cholesterol and total fat can help reduce blood pressure. In addition, eat fat free or low fat dairy products and focus on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, poultry and fish. The National Institutes of Health recommends following the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension. or DASH, plan, a program created to help those with hypertension lower their blood pressure.

To follow this plan, eat a specific amount of food daily from each food group. These foods include six to eight servings of whole grains, four to five servings of fruits, four to five servings of vegetables, two to three servings of fat free or low fat dairy products, six or fewer servings of lean meats and two to three servings of fats and oils. Also, eat four to five servings of nuts, seeds and/or legumes per week and no more than five servings of sweets or added sugars per week. The NIH says that the DASH eating plan is based on a 2,000 calorie per day diet.

Find whole grains in whole-wheat bagels, breads, pastas, oatmeal and cereals. For your meat servings, only eat lean pieces, and cut off all visible pieces of fat. Don't fry meats; instead, broil, roast or poach it and always remove the skin from poultry. Use low-fat mayonnaise and salad dressings for your oil servings. Vegetable oils and margarine are good choices, too. When you do eat sweets, choose low fat options, such as sorbet or fruit-flavored gelatin.

To help control blood pressure, make sure to watch your sodium intake. Choose low-sodium versions of your favorite foods. Surprisingly, canned vegetables, meats and fruits often contain large amount of sodium, so make sure to see if your grocer has a lower sodium alternative.

The Mayo Clinic also recommends limiting alcohol intake, as it can raise your blood pressure by several points. Women shouldn't drink more than a drink a day, and man should only have two. In addition, caffeine could raise blood pressure in some people. Limit caffeine consumption to about 200 mg per day, which is about two cups of coffee.