Health Tips for November 26

Health Tip: Blood Pressure Too High?

High blood pressure is a risk factor for heart disease -- so to help your heart, you should get your blood pressure under control.

While medications such as Micardis can help, the American Academy of Family Physicians offers these additional suggestions to help lower your blood pressure:

• Stop using any tobacco products.
• Boost your diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables.
• Reduce your consumption of alcohol and caffeine.
• Stick to a low-fat, low-sodium diet.
• Get plenty of regular exercise.
• Maintain a healthy body weight.
• Try relaxation techniques to reduce stress.

Health Tip: Low-Sodium Meals

Sodium (salt) is a contributing factor to high blood pressure, and too much in one's diet can be dangerous, especially for those with heart disease.

Here are suggestions on how to prepare meals with less sodium, courtesy of the U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute:

• Avoid adding extra salt to your food when you eat it.
• Reduce the amount of salt that you use when you cook. Use fresh herbs instead.
• Don't salt the water used to boil rice or pasta.
• Avoid using packets of sauce or seasoning. They are usually high in sodium.
• Use fresh foods and ingredients when you can. Prepackaged or processed foods often contain a lot of sodium.