High blood pressure does not mean you have to cut out certain foods altogether as some may even be surprisingly beneficial for your health.
High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is a prevalent condition, particularly among the elderly. However, its commonality should not detract from the fact that it’s a severe health issue that can lead to critical conditions like heart attacks and strokes. Alarmingly, it often goes undetected due to its lack of noticeable symptoms.
Numerous factors contribute to an increased risk of high blood pressure, including being overweight and maintaining an unhealthy diet. Scientists particularly caution against consuming processed meats to reduce your chances of developing high blood pressure. Conversely, focusing on a healthy, balanced diet with limited salt intake can help lower your blood pressure.
Cheese might not be the first thing that comes to mind when considering healthy foods, given its typically high salt content with just one serving of cheddar containing more salt than a packet of crisps, according to the British Heart Foundation.
Nonetheless, cheese does offer health benefits. It’s produced through fermentation, which is beneficial for your gut microbiome and overall gut health.
In addition to this, it’s a rich source of nutrients such as calcium, fat, protein, and vitamins, Surrey Live reports.
Moreover, being selective about your cheese choices could even help you manage your blood pressure, as per Eating Well.
This is partly due to a study that indicates upping calcium intake can “slightly reduces both systolic and diastolic blood pressure”.
The study authors believe this “suggests a role in the prevention of hypertension” and note that “even small reductions in blood pressure could have important health implications for reducing vascular disease”.
Another study began with the premise that “epidemiologic evidence suggests that low-fat dairy consumption may lower risk of hypertension”.
Post-study findings were that “low-fat dairy consumption was associated with lower blood pressure”, possibly thanks to “dairy-rich nutrients including phosphorus and calcium may have contributed to the beneficial associations with blood pressure” which might aid in the observed positive correlation with blood pressure.
Naturally, if you’re dealing with high blood pressure or worried about it, professional medical guidance is paramount.
However, according to Eating Well, dietitians have pinpointed four cheeses that could assist in managing blood pressure.
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Four best cheeses for high blood pressure
1. Swiss Cheese: Lauren Trahan, a registered dietitian, informed the site that “Swiss has the lowest sodium, at 54 milligrams per ounce,” attributing its benefits to less processing, resulting in naturally lower sodium levels. It also boasts 252mg of calcium.
2. Mozzarella: Fresh mozzarella registers at 85 mg of sodium per ounce.
3. Goat’s cheese: According to registered dietitian Susie Polgreen, speaking to Eating Well, goat’s cheese is a favourable choice, containing 118 mg of sodium and 85g of calcium.
4. Ricotta: A half-cup serving of Ricotta boasts 135 mg of sodium and 289 mg of calcium.