Hypertension is the most common disease among middle-aged and elderly people, and it is the main cause of cerebral hemorrhage and cerebral thrombosis. It is also the leading cause of death and disability. Hypertensive patients often experience dizziness and fatigue when their blood pressure rises. Hypertension is also a triggering factor for many cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Therefore, the prevention and treatment of hypertension is urgent.
1. Consume more propolis
As people age, blood vessels gradually age and harden, which leads to increased blood pressure to promote blood circulation. High blood pressure not only accelerates vascular sclerosis, but also leads to thrombus formation and rupture of cerebral arteries due to sclerosis. Flavonoids in propolis have strong antioxidant properties, which can not only reduce the damage of oxidative lipids to blood vessels and prevent vascular sclerosis, but also effectively reduce the content of triglycerides, reduce platelet aggregation, improve microcirculation, and thus reduce high blood pressure and prevent related incidents.
Therefore, middle-aged and elderly people who regularly consume propolis benefit from its effects on hypertension, heart disease, and arteriosclerosis. Clinical trials on the lipid-lowering effect of propolis have shown that propolis has a preventive effect on hyperlipidemia, high cholesterol, and arteriosclerosis. It has a significant effect on preventing the increase of collagen fibers in blood vessels and the accumulation of cholesterol in the liver. Research on propolis in various countries has also confirmed that it can improve the elasticity and permeability of blood vessels, dilate blood vessels, remove deposits on the inner wall of blood vessels, purify blood, reduce blood viscosity, improve blood circulation and hematopoietic function, etc.
2. Pay attention to foods containing "hidden sodium"
Although people pay attention to controlling the amount of salt in dishes and other side dishes, they often overlook the "hidden" sodium in some foods. Therefore, in addition to salt, hypertensive patients should also limit the intake of foods containing "hidden sodium", such as soy sauce, which contains 700-800 milligrams of sodium per tablespoon. It is advisable to choose low-sodium or reduced-sodium soy sauce. Other foods with higher "hidden sodium" content include preserved eggs, cured duck, sausages, ham, tofu pudding, dried tofu, preserved fruits, olives, pickles, etc. For example, after making pickled cabbage, the sodium content can increase from a few milligrams to 1560 milligrams, an increase of nearly 100 times.
3. Eat low-sugar fruits
Sugar is one of the three major nutrients, and the body's heat energy mainly comes from sugar. The first thing that hypertensive patients need to do is to reduce calorie intake and lose weight, as obesity is one of the important causes of weight gain. Excessive sugar intake can easily cause elevated blood lipids, increase blood viscosity, exacerbate atherosclerotic plaques, and lead to arteriosclerosis. It can also lead to coronary heart disease, diabetes, stroke and other conditions. Therefore, hypertensive patients should consume foods with low sugar content.
4. Minimize consumption of Western fast food
Western fast food, such as hamburgers, french fries, and fried chicken, is considered by nutritionists as "energy bombs" and "junk food". The latest research by the Swedish National Safety Management Agency shows that fast food such as french fries and hamburgers can induce tumors. The investigation by the US Food and Drug Administration also found high levels of carcinogens in these foods. Western fast food is also characterized by high fat, high calories, and high protein, with low content of vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber. It is not suitable for hypertensive patients to consume. Therefore, hypertensive patients should try to minimize the consumption of Western fast food and preferably avoid it altogether.
5. Consume less monosodium glutamate
It is well known that consuming less salt is very important for the prevention and treatment of hypertension. However, some people use monosodium glutamate to enhance flavor while controlling salt intake, which is also not conducive to the prevention and control of hypertension. This is because salt consists of sodium chloride. Excessive salt intake can cause an increase in body fluids, especially blood volume, leading to elevated blood pressure and increased cardiac burden. The main component of monosodium glutamate is sodium glutamate. It decomposes into glutamate and sodium ions in the body, which is equivalent to another form of "salt". Consuming too much monosodium glutamate can also aggravate hypertension. People with higher blood pressure have less sensitive taste buds and require stronger flavors, which can easily form a vicious cycle. In order to fundamentally control blood pressure, it is necessary to start with dietary restrictions, consume less salt and monosodium glutamate, and gradually correct unhealthy eating habits.
6. Pay attention to details when dining out
(1) Drink less soup. The salt content in soups in general restaurants is between 1.2% and 2%, which means that 100 grams of soup contains 1.2-2 grams of salt. If two bowls of soup are consumed, it could amount to 5 grams of salt intake. In addition, it is best to avoid meat soups such as pork rib soup, chicken soup, and duck soup, as they contain a large amount of fat and cholesterol.
(2) Eat less or avoid fried foods. If consumed, remove the skin and fatty parts before eating.
(3) Choose dishes prepared by steaming or other methods, as they tend to have a lighter taste.
(4) Eat less fatty and rich foods, and avoid dishes with high fat and cholesterol content, such as animal offal.
(5) Fried rice and fried noodles have more fat than white rice and clear soup noodles, so be careful not to consume excessive amounts.
