Allergies with HYPERTENSION
Dear Donovan,
I was recently told that I’m allergic to dairy products, peanuts and shellfish. I was also advised to stay away from powdered seasoning when cooking, and that I should only boil my foods and use table salt to season. However, I am hypertensive. How can I work around this in view of the allergies?Hypertension (high blood pressure) is a silent killer and must never be taken lightly. In your situation, I would have been better able to assist you if you had given me some more information. For example, are you overweight? What is your diet like? Do you have an active lifestyle? Are you on medication? In addition, you did not disclose where you received your nutrition advice. However, I must tell you that eating boiled food would be much better than eating white rice, flour, etc.You will have to be careful with your salt intake. Basically, hypertension is usually lifestyle-related, hereditary or a mixture of both factors. It is therefore very important to control some of the risk factors for hypertension, such as obesity, stress, high cholesterol, high alcohol consumption, inactivity, etc. In essence, maintaining a healthy lifestyle can go a far way in keeping your hypertension under control. It should be noted that it is very important to keep a regular check on your blood pressure. Also, you must consult with your physician on a regular basis.Hypertension can lead to strokes and several other cardiovascular and kidney problems. A diet rich in whole grains, vegetables, soups, vegetable juices, fruits and salads will definitely help to keep your weight down and will also keep you healthy. Foods rich in fats and salt should definitely be avoided. Vegetable juices, especially green juice, are very good in controlling blood pressure. Keeping active and reducing stress levels as much as possible are also good ways to reduce blood pressure.You mentioned that you are allergic to some food items. It is quite possible to live a healthy and normal life without consuming these items. In a general way, you should pay attention to the labels on the food products that you buy. Some of the items that you are allergic to might be minor items in these foods. In addition, some factories and fast food places might also be processing products with substances that can cause an allergic reaction. It is all outlined on the packages of the products that you are buying. Therefore, ensure that you read them carefully and try to eliminate foods that give you an allergic reaction. We will answer your weight-related questions
Are you struggling to lose weight, or just need some advice on living a healthier life? Tell us about your health issues and we’ll have nutritionist and wellness coach Donovan Grant answer them for you. Grant has over 12 years’ experience in the fitness industry and is the owner of DG’s Nutrition and Wellness Centre, 39 Lady Musgrave Road. Call him at 876-286-1363. E-mail questions to clarkep@jamaicaobserver.com.
