Menu for breaking the fast that must be avoided for people with hypertension

Menu for breaking the fast that must be avoided for people with hypertension

Hypertension is a condition where the body experiences blood pressure that exceeds normal limits. Symptoms that suffer from hypertension include a person experiencing headaches, eye pain, weakness or fatigue. Generally, adults with a healthy body condition have normal blood pressure of around 90/60 mmHg to 120/80 mmHg. If left to continue, hypertension can trigger complications from various diseases, such as heart disease, stroke, and even life-threatening. A person who has been diagnosed with hypertension must always take medication to stabilize their blood pressure.

Knowing that, before fasting, hypertension sufferers should first consult a doctor regarding whether they are allowed to fast or not. This is to prevent undesirable things from happening if you are forced to fast. If the doctor permits, then during fasting, hypertension sufferers must reduce their intake of foods that contain high sodium and fat. In this month of Ramadan, breaking the fast is a very special moment. Not a few people buy lots of their favorite foods to quench their hunger and thirst after a day of fasting.

However, if you have hypertension, you should be careful and not go crazy when breaking the fast. Because, there are several dietary restrictions so that blood pressure does not rise suddenly, including:

1. Foods rich in salt

For people with hypertension, avoid foods rich in salt when breaking the fast. Salt is a major contributor to high blood pressure so it needs to be avoided. These foods can cause hypertension because they can affect the fluid balance in the blood.

In fact, a person should not consume sodium content of 2,300 milligrams or the equivalent of 1 teaspoon. Therefore, it is better to avoid foods with a salty taste when breaking the fast.

2. Sugar

Excessive sugar intake when breaking the fast can also increase blood pressure. Drinks rich in sugar can contribute to weight gain, both in adults and children.

Overweight and obesity which affect a person's high blood pressure. In fact, several studies say that excessive sugar consumption can also have a direct effect on increasing blood pressure.

Therefore, make sure to limit your daily sugar consumption. For men, make sure to consume no more than 9 teaspoons. Meanwhile for women, no more than 6 tea spoons of sugar.

3. Processed foods are rich in saturated fat

Someone who has high blood pressure problems also needs to avoid consuming processed foods that are rich in saturated fat. Trans fat itself is an artificial fat that increases the shelf life and stability of packaged foods.

This content increases LDL cholesterol levels (bad cholesterol) and reduces HDL cholesterol levels (good cholesterol), so there is a greater risk of developing hypertension. Some foods that are rich in saturated fat are animal products, such as fat-rich milk and cream, butter, and chicken skin.

4. Red meat

During the fasting month, there are usually lots of processed meat foods, such as rendang or curry. However, people with hypertension should avoid consuming meat when breaking the fast. Because red meat contains saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium, which can increase blood pressure.

5. Fried foods

In Indonesia, breaking the fast with fried food seems to have become a habit. So, those who have hypertension should avoid this habit. Consuming fried foods can cause blood pressure to rise, reduce HDL cholesterol levels, and increase the risk of obesity.

When food is fried in oil, the water content in it is lost and the oil is absorbed. As a result, the calories in food increase

Those are the foods that people with hypertension need to avoid. Just in case, you should also always have hypertension medication on hand that can lower blood pressure.