Hypertension is a serious physical condition that is a problem for many people in the world today. Hypertension is a measure of the bloods pressure or force against the vessel walls as it flows out of the heart and into the body parts and extremities. Having a high blood pressure will slowly but surely kill a person. It is important for people with high blood pressure to get treatment and make changes in their life. Life style and changes in diet will have an effect on hypertension.

Changing Ones Diet to Effect Hypertension

There are some significant changes to diet that will have an effect hypertension. The easiest change to make for any person is to limit the salt intake in the diet. The dietary recommendation for daily sodium intake is 1,100 to 3,300 mg per day. People with seriously high blood pressure may want to reduce their sodium even more. Foods that are high in sodium include canned soups and vegetables, processed meats, snack foods such as potato chips and pretzels and many other things like this. Eliminating these foods and added table salt in the diet will have an effect on hypertension.

At the same time that salt is eliminated a person will want to increase the potassium intake in their diet to have an effect on hypertension. The potassium should be increased by eating foods that are rich in potassium rather that by taking a potassium supplement if possible. Foods that are rich in potassium include oranges, bananas, potatoes and many other fruits and vegetables.

The DASH Diet To Effect Hypertension

The DASH Diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) was a study done to see what how diet effected hypertension. Through this study the American Heart Association and the American Cancer Society has recommended changes to the American diet that will help prevent hypertension and many other serious health issues. The Dash diet tells people what to eat to have a healthy life style. The diet focuses on increased fruits, vegetables, complex carbohydrates and low fat dairy. By eating these foods a person will automatically cut their sodium intake and increase their potassium intake. The person will also see improvement in their cholesterol levels.

People with hypertension can make improvements in their life style and diet that will have a positive affect on their hypertension. It is important that these steps be taken to improve health and prevent further complications.