High blood pressure is a common condition that affects more than a quarter of all adults in the UK. But, you could lower your risk of developing hypertension by avoiding certain foods and drinks, it’s been claimed.

High blood pressure – which is also known as hypertension – puts extra stress on blood vessels and vital organs.

The condition could lead to some deadly complications, including strokes and heart attacks.

It could be caused by eating an unhealthy diet, or by not doing enough exercise.

Avoiding some common foods may be the key to reducing your blood pressure.

Potatoes could be significantly raising your blood pressure, according to Healthspan’s Medical Director, Dr Sarah Brewer.

Eating baked potatoes may be increasing your risk of hypertension by up to 11 percent, she said.

Chips are the worst form of potato for your blood pressure, studies have revealed.

Regularly eating chips increases the chances of developing high blood pressure by 17 percent, compared with those that ate fewer than a single portion of chips each month.

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“Certain foods are particularly good to eat if you have hypertension and can significantly lower your risk of experiencing a heart attack or stroke,” said Dr Brewer.

She told Express Health: “Eating four or more servings of potatoes a week is associated with a significantly increased risk of hypertension, according to three studies, which followed over 187,000 doctors and nurses for more than 20 years.

“Eating baked, boiled or mashed potatoes appeared to increase the risk by 11 percent and French fries by 17 percent compared to those who ate less than one serving of these per month.

“These statistical associations remained, even after adjusting for total dietary intakes of sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, fibre and dietary fats, and after taking people’s weight and age into account.”

The best way to protect your blood pressure is to swap your potatoes for beetroot, she added.

Beetroot is rich in nitrites, which are subsequently converted into nitric oxide in the body.

Nitric oxide dilates blood vessels, which also reduces blood pressure.

Drinking just 250ml of beetroot juice every day for a month could reduce your blood pressure by up to 7.7/5.2mmHg, she added.

High blood pressure is often known as ‘the silent killer’, because symptoms only tend to reveal themselves if you have extremely high blood pressure.

The most common high blood pressure symptoms include a pounding in your chest, finding blood in your urine, and severe headaches.

It’s crucial that all adults over 40 years old check their blood pressure at least once every five years.

You can check your blood pressure by visiting your local doctors’ surgery or pharmacy.

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