The Pregnancy Hypertension Diet
Sunday, November 8th, 2009High blood pressure and pregnancy seem to go hand in hand for many women, especially if they have a problem with high blood pressure to begin with. Sometimes there’s no explanation for hypertension during pregnancy, but usually it’s brought on by carrying around extra weight (i.e. the baby inside you) and stress and anxiety that can sometimes become elevated during pregnancy. You can buy prescription drugs online to help lower blood pressure (so long as it’s approved for use by pregnant women), or you can follow a healthy pregnancy-safe diet specially designed for pregnant women with hypertension.
Eat lots of fruits and veggies (unsalted). Eat foods that are rich in antioxidants, like acai berries, blueberries, and green and white teas. Send a message of health to your heart by consuming omega-3 fatty acids. Many foods are now fortified with omega-3, but your best source will come from fresh salmon, flaxseeds, and nuts. Increase your potassium intake. Eat bananas and sweet potatoes for a healthy dose. Boost calcium to keep your blood pressure down. Try and limit weight gain since the addition of weight could mean an even further increase in blood pressure. Do this by cutting excessively fatty and sugary foods and by exercising. Do low-impact aerobics to burn calories and improve heart health.