Cold cuts, bacon, and processed meats often contain a lot of salt and preservatives that can increase blood pressure if eaten in excess.
It is normal for blood pressure to rise and fall throughout the day, but if it is consistently high it can damage the heart and cause other health problems. People with high blood pressure are at risk of heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease.
To stabilize blood pressure, in addition to taking medication, patients can increase exercise, maintain a suitable weight, reduce stress, and monitor daily food consumption. In particular, people with high blood pressure should limit some of the unhealthy meats below.
Cold cuts
This type of meat is popular in fast food restaurants, often used to make sandwiches and hamburgers. Cold cuts are highly processed, containing a lot of sodium (salt) and preservatives such as sodium nitrate (NaNO3). NaNO3 can increase the risk of heart disease, while consuming too much salt is linked to high blood pressure.
Bacon
Bacon is high in sodium, and sodium nitrate can raise blood pressure. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture , a 1-ounce serving of bacon (about three slices) contains 579 mg of sodium.
The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends that people with high blood pressure should not consume more than 1,500 mg of sodium (equivalent to 2/3 teaspoon of salt) per day.
Cold cuts and bacon can increase blood pressure if eaten too much. Photo: Freepik
Red meat
Red meats such as beef, lamb, pork, veal, deer, and goat. The process of metabolizing red meat, especially processed meat, also releases uric acid in the body, which can cause high blood pressure.
The AHA recommends that people with high blood pressure limit red meat and prioritize healthier alternatives such as grilled chicken and skinless turkey.
Processed meat
People with high blood pressure should avoid processed foods. Some fast foods such as pizza and fried chicken are also heavily processed and have added salt to improve the taste.
Hot dogs are highly processed meats that are high in salt. One hot dog contains about 424 mg of sodium, about 28% of the recommended daily intake for people with high blood pressure.
In addition to limiting the above meats, people with high blood pressure should prioritize a healthy diet, such as DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension). The DASH diet encourages the consumption of healthy foods such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, low-fat or fat-free dairy products, and reduces sweets and sugary drinks.
This diet can help lower blood pressure and improve cholesterol, both of which increase the risk of heart disease. People who are not used to changing so many habits at once can do it in small steps. For example, add one serving of fruits and vegetables each day in the first week and cut out sweets the next.
Bao Bao (According to Eat This Not That, Healthline )
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