By Dean L. Jones, CPM<\/p>\n
Commonly, we associate having high blood pressure to consuming too many salt and sodium-packed processed foods.\u00a0 Metaphorically speaking, the jury is back in session and salt is the least likely suspect for causing high blood pressure and the real criminal that is doing the high blood pressure crime is processed sugar.\u00a0 Of course, the utmost culprit is one\u2019s self by habitually consuming sugar-sweetened soft drinks, fruit drinks, lemonade, fruit punch, sports drinks, and those unsuspicious flavored waters.<\/p>\n
Accordingly, it comes as no surprise that today there are over 130 million Americans with reported cases of have high blood pressure or pre-hypertension.\u00a0 If there is any New Year resolution people need to consider for 2013, it is to lower the intake of processed sugars.\u00a0 For those who have access to a blood pressure monitor and consume sugary drinks can really benefit from this information.\u00a0 Drink one less 12-ounce sugary-beverage each day for just five days and your top number (systolic blood pressure) will drop at least 1 to 2 points.\u00a0 The top number is the one that measures the pressure with each heart contraction.\u00a0 At the same time the bottom number (diastolic blood pressure) will drop close to 1 point.<\/p>\n
This tiny effort will allow you to see a direct correlation between sugar intake and high blood pressure.\u00a0 Then, you will be able to make better decisions on whether to consume those others so called foods that are packed with this deadly crystal.\u00a0 For the record, normal blood pressure is 120\/80, although there are a number of doctors now stating that 115\/75 is best.\u00a0 But addressing those with high blood pressure we are talking usually 140\/90 or higher.<\/p>\n
Make 2013 a year for more reading the label for the ingredients of packaged foods to be better informed about what goes into making the stuff.\u00a0 Definitely avoid products that are made with High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS).\u00a0 In addition, think twice about those alcohol cocktails that are loaded with processed sugar, which is usually why they are so tasty.\u00a0 What is more, watch out for those artificially sweetened items because ingredients like aspartame are carcinogens and can lead to developing serious illnesses, including cancer.<\/p>\n
The average day for most people does not allow time to make a meal with whole foods, as we depend on something already prepared in order to get back to work.\u00a0 Ironically, it is businesses that make convenient food items, unfortunately, this industrialized handiness has given rise to an over consumption of refined carbohydrates, and whereas the medical community is unhurried to share the connection to our over consumption of processed foods and the rise of chronic diseases.\u00a0 The most familiar reason is that there is a drug to be sold to suppress the pain and symptoms of what ails you.\u00a0 So stay sugar alert!<\/p>\n