What is one thing to avoid if you have high blood pressure?

Managing High Blood Pressure Through Diet

Living with high blood pressure means paying close attention to what goes on your plate every day. One of the most important things to avoid is a high intake of salt and sodium, which can quietly strain your heart and push your blood pressure numbers up.

You do not have to completely overhaul your lifestyle overnight. Even making a small, intentional reduction in the sodium you consume can lead to noticeable improvements in your cardiovascular health. While everyone’s body reacts a bit differently, health guidelines generally recommend keeping your daily sodium intake to no more than 2,300 milligrams.

For even better results, aiming lower is often the key. Most adults benefit most from striving to limit sodium to 1,500 milligrams a day or less. Simple habits—like reading nutrition labels carefully, choosing fresh ingredients over heavily processed foods, and being mindful of restaurant meals—can make a big difference in keeping your heart strong and healthy for the long run.