We often think and its also proven that using salt in your diet will cause an increase in your blood pressure. There is a negative effect on the blood pressure where ever high salt intake is involved. However, avoiding salt is not the only thing that needs to be done. A dietary program for hypertension is the advisable course of action. This program will engage in efforts to prevent consumption of foods high in cholesterol or sugar, in effect this diet will help prevent cardiovascular diseases and diabetes.

A management program of such a nature is the DASH diet, Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension. Changes must be made to your entire diet when taking up this particular dietary program for hypertension, removing salt from your diet is not enough, in order to control high blood pressure and keep it regulated your meal menu must be revised. The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute conducted a study from which the DASH diet was constructed. Based on this study your blood pressure can be regulated by simply eating foods low in cholesterol and saturated fats. Also it is necessary to eat foods high in essential nutrients.

The following elements are DASH's core focus.

It is imperative that you make a drastic decrease in the body's overall fat and saturated fat intake. Avoid foods that taste good but are bad for you if you are a hypertensive individual. Stay away from foods like fast foods, snack food, and desserts. On most occasions foods that taste good may have a high fat and sugar content.

Prepare meals that are high in fiber and whole grain. Substituting whole wheat bread for white bread and high fiber cereals instead of plain cereals. There must be a significant increase in fruit and raw vegetable intake. One of the best fruits to include in your diet is pineapple. There is a Pineapple diet but this is another topic for discussion.

A reduction of sweets and sugary drinks are definitely part of this program. Along with, taking vitamins, drinking water and lots of it.

During my research and preparation of this article, it was discovered that many individuals who try to lower there sugar intake substitute with a sweetener containing Aspartame. I have personally experienced a raise in my blood pressure due to aspartame. It was drastically raised by 10 points. Aspartame is also known as a poison and contaminates our blood. Most diet products contains aspartame, do abstain from eating anything which contains this substance.

A full menu and lifestyle change must be observed when trying to follow a dietary program for hypertension. However, it is always wise to consult a physician before you make any drastic changes in your diet. If you are pregnant and have hypertension the DASH diet is one of your best diet options.

Can the DASH diet cure hypertension? Well, I cannot be certain of that, however I can guarantee that it will be a reduced and controlled. Hence, pursuing a dietary program for hypertension is a great option. It will enable you to live longer and its deadly complications will be nothing but an after thought.

Yes, the title of this post is correct.  Its been shown where Rice is a very good high blood pressure reducer.  In his book  "Control High Blood Pressure without drugs, Dr. Robert Rowan, M.D Writes the following

"About fifty years ago a major advance in understanding the relationship between diet and treatment of hypertension was made by Dr. Walter Kempner of Duke University.  He was responsible for what has come to be known as the rice diet.  Here is how it happened: A thirty three-year-old  woman suffering from severe kidney disease was told to remain on diet of plain unsalted rice for two weeks and then to return for further evaluation. However, the woman did not return for two months……..When Kempner finally examined her, he found a remarkable difference: Her blood pressure had come down, and her ECG had improved as did the serious aspects of the kidney diseases. "

Kempner went on to recommend the diet to several of his patients and 2/3rds of them showed similar blood pressure reduction, improvement in kidney function and greater strength in cardiac muscle.

Incidentally, this was the first time low salt was seen as a high blood pressure reducer.  In this present day, a low salt diet is seen as an important lifestyle change high blood pressure sufferers should make.

Note well,  the rice diet is difficult to follow,  moreover, it does not provide a complete nutritional balance that the body needs.  It is also not a sexy diet.    It is for these reasons that it is not a popular remedy for high blood pressure.

Given a choice between high blood pressure, possible kidney failure and other medical complications,  I will take the rice diet any day as a high blood pressure reducer. Besides,  It can always be complimented with other exciting and sexy foods.