When looking to achieve good blood pressure control, one of the most obvious things to monitor closely is what you consume. One of the most common ways to protect against hypertension is by limiting your intake of salt, which can have a detrimental effect on blood pressure. The body requires sodium, but this does not mean that one should take in a high amount of the mineral. An excess of sodium can increase blood pressure dramatically.

Many foods can contribute to high blood pressure such as fatty foods, fried foods, processed foods. With these foods, the main reason that they are more dangerous to your blood pressure is that the salt content is extremely high. Many foods are high in sodium so you need to be very careful of what you eat. At least a small amount of sodium is found in almost every food, so you must read the nutrition labels on everything. Luckily the sodium content is labeled on most food items, which makes it much easier to keep track and buy smart. Even if a food doesn’t have a label, you can often search for the item online with a nutrition app.

If you are a salt lover and find it difficult to cut back on your consumption, you will be happy to know that there are alternative additives that can be used while keeping your hypertension under control. Different kinds of salt substitutes are available such as those that contain calcium or potassium. These are especially great for vegetarians and vegans who have a difficult time getting enough calcium in their diet. It is important to consult your physician to make sure that these substitutes are safe for you to use. For example, patients with kidney disease will not be able to use these supplements.

These are just a few examples of foods and additives that can cause increases to your blood pressure. Remember to talk with your physician about the best way to control any complications related to hypertension.