In addition to taking medication as prescribed, people with high blood pressure are encouraged to follow a healthy diet. They should take care of our health every day so check our tips on how to make a healthy Easter breakfast for people with high blood pressure.
Hypertension is one of the diseases that require dietary treatment, which is as important as pharmacological treatment. The question is, what can be served on the Easter table for those with high blood pressure that is both delicious and healthy? This is a problem that affects almost every Polish family, as one-third of the adult population in Poland has hypertension, with the number rising to 65 percent for those over 65 years old.
People with high blood pressure can still enjoy a delicious Easter breakfast without compromising their health.
Breakfast, which is the main meal during Easter, is very important for people with high blood pressure, as shown by a 2016 study published in the Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, which linked consuming breakfast with a lower risk of hypertension. However, when it comes to the traditional Polish Easter breakfast, the options may not be ideal for those with high blood pressure. Ham with fat, salad with mayonnaise, fatty sour soup with sausage, and plenty of eggs are just some of the typical dishes.
Eating too much food in a short amount of time can lead to increased heart load. After a heavy meal, the body has to work harder to digest and absorb the nutrients, which increases the need for oxygen and energy, resulting in increased blood pressure. This can cause long-term damage to blood vessels and the heart, increasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Overeating can also lead to increased blood sugar levels, which can lead to insulin resistance and diabetes. Excessive consumption of food causes fatigue, heaviness, and lack of energy, so it’s important to pay attention to the amount of food consumed.
According to health experts, to have a blood pressure-friendly breakfast, one should choose foods that are high in fiber, low in saturated fats, and low in sodium, such as oatmeal or whole-grain toast with avocado. These are not typically traditional Easter dishes. However, there is good news as eggs, a typical Easter food, are particularly good for people with high blood pressure. According to scientists from Clemson University, egg protein contains a peptide compound that can help lower blood pressure in the same way as drugs.
It has also been shown that the DASH diet, which is based on whole grains, dark bread, vegetables, fruits, legumes, low-fat dairy products, oily fish, and healthy vegetable oils such as rapeseed oil or olive oil, lowers blood pressure. This is a good basis for a successful Easter breakfast.
As with any day, try to avoid consuming trans fats, which are present in many processed foods (such as cold cuts, white bread, sausages, and cookies) and fatty meat dishes, as they increase LDL cholesterol, which deposits on the walls of blood vessels and causes them to narrow. This increases the risk of diseases such as hypertension, heart attack, and stroke.