Low sodium diet for HBP

dmarbell

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So my BP was up yesterday at the doc's. It's been high since I was in my early twenties, at least, and that's 40 years. I haven't been on medication for some years, and it looks like I'm heading that way now.

I also have never tried to reduce sodium dramatically. Doc said it's hard and makes food taste shitty (his description, I like him). So reduce sodium and eat shitty tasting food or take a pill and eat like a normal American.

I eat a lot of foods that are high in sodium - fast foods, canned foods and prepared foods.

Has anyone had luck with a reduced or restricted sodium diet? Doc says you either are or are not sodium sensitive BP-wise, and the only way to tell is to try it.

For those who want to know, it was 175/94. I don't need to damage my liver and kidneys because I need them to continue processing my alcohol intake. :p:D
 
Almost everything has salt in it. EVERYTHING processed has salt. It is for sure a cleaner way of living. You can play around with a whole crapload of herbs and spices to make up for adding salt.

FWIW, the new 'normal' for a 'normal' BP has dropped even more, so now 75% of Americans have technical hypertension. Yeah, don't eff around with your kidneys.
 
Cooking your own foods at home is about the most excellent way of reducing sodium...or any other diet concern, for that matter.

Another thing to consider with respect to blood pressure: being overweight increases your blood pressure. Sometimes dramatically. So losing weight will reduce it. Sometimes even a 10 pound loss can produce a significant (measurably consistent) reduction in blood pressure.

I don't know what your weight condition is, but most people are at least somewhat overweight in this country...especially once you start getting into the upper thirties and older. So do take a look at this, as well. I am 54 and recently hit 199 pounds last month (I'm 5' 9" tall). My ideal weight for my build is probably around 160. I've gotten back down to 179 and my ultimate target weight is to get back to the mid-160s.

And yes...my blood pressure IS higher than it should be at these elevated weights. And yes, it DOES go back down consistent with my weight.


EDIT: By the way, not everybody's blood pressure is significantly affected by salt levels. Mine isn't, for example. Even so...excessive salt on a routine basis probably isn't all that good for you. Be sure to drink plenty of fluids (i.e. water) if your salt intake is high...this will enable your body to eliminate excess salt as efficiently as possible.
 
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I also have never tried to reduce sodium dramatically. Doc said it's hard and makes food taste shitty (his description, I like him). So reduce sodium and eat shitty tasting food or take a pill and eat like a normal American.
:p:D
I'm in the same boat. I don't like salt much to start with, filling the salt shaker with cayenne makes food satisfying.
Who's your doc? You're near me and I need a GP.
 
I like biscuits, gravy, and bacon for a low sodium diet. My blood pressure is always about 110/68. That’s proof it works right?
 
I'm in the same boat. I don't like salt much to start with, filling the salt shaker with cayenne makes food satisfying.
Who's your doc? You're near me and I need a GP.

Ronald Prucha at Wakemed Fuquay. I believe he'll be in Fuquay for some months, then transition to Cary. Both of those are pretty convenient to you.

I liked him, but it was just one visit.
 
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