High blood pressure: Four snack swaps to help lower high blood pressure
HIGH BLOOD pressure can be caused or worsened by eating a poor diet, especially one which is high in salt and fat. Swap these treats for these four tasty alternatives to keep your blood pressure level healthy.
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High blood pressure is when the pressure of blood in the body is too high.
This can put extra strain on the blood vessels, which can lead to serious health problems like strokes and heart attacks.
There are many risk factors which can increase the chances of developing high blood pressure.
One risk factor is following a poor diet, especially one which is high in salt and fat.
When you’re craving a snack, consider a swap that will support your healthy lifestyle and still fill you up
Eating too much salt, fat and sugar when blood pressure is already high can increase it even further.
It’s therefore important to make healthy diet choices if you have high blood pressure, in order to lower it.
Jessica Andersson, nutritional therapist at Nuffield Health, recommends swapping these snacks with the following four tasty alternatives to help manage blood pressure.
“If you struggle with high blood pressure, it might feel like the things you shouldn’t eat outnumber the ones you should,” said Andersson.
“These quick tips will help you to make good choices when hunger strikes.”
Sweets
Swap sweets for a handful of seeds with a naturally sweet piece of fruit or some berries.
Chocolate bars
Swap chocolate bars for oat cakes or seeded crackers with a thin spread of sugar-free almond or peanut butter.
Puddings
Swap puddings for a cup of Greek yoghurt scattered with seeds, a handful of blueberries and half a banana.
Crisps and dips
Swap crisps and dips for chickpea hummus with crunch sticks of carrot, celery or bell pepper.
“Snacking isn’t always a bad thing. In fact, it can be a good way of keeping your energy levels up,” said Andersson.
“But busy days and a hectic lifestyle sometimes lead to rushed, unhealthy choices, and if you have a health condition, that could spell trouble.”
“So, when you’re craving a snack, consider a swap that will support your healthy lifestyle and still fill you up.”