Therapeutic diet for high blood pressure

Diet therapy deals with modifications necessary in the diet in the treatment of different diseases. This is extremely necessary because the metabolism of individual changes in different diseases with respect to one or more nutrients. The modifications required in the diet are generally modifications in carbohydrate content, protein, fat, calorie supplies and other mineral requirements.

High blood pressure is a common disorder occurring among middle and old age groups. The predisposing causes are hereditary causes and strain and stress due to faulty lifestyle. Generally systolic pressure of over 150 mm hg and diastolic pressure of over 95 mm hg is considered high blood pressure.

Treatment principles:

The diet therapy is not a substitute to the drugs prescribed by the physician. So continue it as per his advice.

Modifications in calorie content:

The aim is to provide calorie deficit in the body which will result in the fat stored in the adipose tissue being used to meet the calorie requirements. These are generally used for the treatments of hypertension, obesity, cardio-vascular disease etc.

Modifications in fat content:

The intention is to provide restricted or low-fat diet. The fat intake should be restricted below 20% of the total calories as the body fat will be mobilized and oxidized besides dietary fat.

Modifications in protein content:

Proteins should be mainly derived from milk and other animal foods and should be of high nutritive value.

Modifications in other constituents:

Sodium restricted diets are essential in the treatment of cardiac failure and hypertension. Milled cereals, pulses, skim milk, unsalted butter, potatoes have low sodium content. Vitamin supplements are necessary because most of the therapeutic diets may be lacking in one or more vitamins.

Kempner's diet for hypertension:

Kempner has recommended rigid rice- fruit- sugar die for hypertension in 1948. His diet provides about 2000 Kcal, 5 g fat, 20 g proteins, and 150 mg sodium. Fruit juices are permitted in this diet. The fluid needs and vitamin supplements are provided to meet the dietary requirements.

Sample diet for high blood pressure

Breakfast

• Bread or cornflakes with skim milk
• Fruits- 1 serving

1 hour before lunch...Fruit juice (1 glass)

Lunch

• Cooked rice or chappathi - 1 serving
• Cooked dhal
• Curd - 2 cups
• Skim milk pudding - 1 serving
• Meat or fish (half-cup) - for non-vegetarians

Evening:

Fruit juice- 1 glass

Dinner

Similar to lunch

In the morning, try to have carrot juice in your diet. Carrot juice is known as miracle juice and it cures many chronic diseases. Gaylord Hauser and berg in their book "the dictionary of foods" has stated the alkalinizing and blood purifying properties of carrot juice.

250 Gms of carrot juice+ 50 Gms of spinach juice makes a good cocktail and try to add it in your diet in the morning.

Or

3parts of carrot juice + 1 part of cucumber juice is highly effective in normalizing blood pressure.

In the evening, orange juice can be had as a part of your fluid intake. The fructose present in orange gives immediate strength and a glass of orange juice provides nearly 100 calories. The sugar and acids present in it is very useful to promote digestion and increase appetite.

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