In the modern world, more and more people face the problem of hypertension, and in this case, it is useful to have a blood pressure monitor at hand.
It is also worth mentioning that some nutrition fictions can affect blood pressure monitoring results. Food and diet misconceptions can alter blood pressure measurements and create unnecessary panic.
In this article, we shall analyze and dismiss five myths about food that could give you false readings with a home blood pressure monitor.
Myth 1: The Effect of Bananas on Blood Pressure is Immediate
Potassium in bananas is renowned worldwide and is useful for the heart and may help to bring down high blood pressure over a certain period.
Nonetheless, one cannot expect to eat a banana and have a lower reading right after checking blood pressure.
High blood pressure is the result of long-standing wrong diet patterns rather than something that can be corrected by dieting over the short term.
Getting bananas because you are looking for an effective way to lower your pressure rather than correct will give wrong readings.
Myth 2: Low Blood pressure Because of The Water Taken Before The Reading
Water is indeed an important resource for one outdoors. However, the notion that taking water just before the pressure reading will result in saving more water is wrong.
In fact, taking excessive amounts of fluids, especially water, just before this test can lead to abnormal readings due to increased epinephrine levels.
The right way is to drink adequate, more than sufficient fluids throughout the day and not just before you intend to use your monitor.
Myth 3: Dark Chocolate Immediately Reduces The High Blood Pressure
Dark chocolate is medically recognized as having cardiovascular-related benefits. That is, it should not be consumed in excess due to the presence of its antioxidants.
The same way, even in the absence of a slow-course dark chocolate preparatory treatment, consumption of the dark candy immediately before the monitoring period does not appreciably lower the peak pressures of patients.
More so, the dealings that matter are the ones over time and not the temporary ones.
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Myth 4: Less Hunger, Lower Pressure Readings
There are some people who hold the belief that either fasting or withholding meals before the use of the home monitor blood pressure unit will give more favorable readings.
On the contrary, this always leads to low sugar levels or stress, which are known to raise blood pressure. Balanced dietary levels of nutrients have been shown to achieve a better reduction of blood pressure as compared to intermittent fasting methods.
Myth 5: Salt Substitutes Are Healthier at All Times
Salt is known to raise blood pressure, but that is not the reason for using salt substitutes.
Some salt substitutes comprise potassium chloride, which may serve as a problem for those with kidney diseases. Note that salt intake should reduce salt substitution, but get confirmation from the doctor.
Conclusion
It is important to know the influence of food on blood pressure because this is necessary to get correct information from a blood pressure home monitor.
Time will show that healthy, balanced food will do miracles, while fads and shortcuts will only confuse. Stay focused on the evidence, and you will find your home monitoring useful for health maintenance.