For Hypertension Patients, This Food Can Be 'Toxic'... The 'Food' You Must Avoid

Green and Yellow Vegetables Rich in Potassium
Are Beneficial for Blood Pressure Medication Users

Medications and supplements require caution regarding the foods and beverages consumed together. Even with the same medication, the effect can be enhanced or, conversely, the risk of side effects can increase depending on what it is taken with. Hypertension patients taking blood pressure medication especially need to be selective about their diet.

In particular, diuretics, which are widely used for treating high blood pressure, lower blood pressure by promoting the excretion of water and sodium from the body. Representative examples include hydrochlorothiazide, furosemide, and spironolactone.

Grapefruit. (This photo is not directly related to the article.) Pixabay

When these medications are taken long-term, potassium can be lost from the body as well, leading to hypokalemia. This condition can cause various side effects such as muscle cramps, fatigue, and irregular heartbeats.

If you are taking diuretic-type blood pressure medications, it is advisable to frequently consume potassium-rich green and yellow vegetables such as carrots, spinach, and kale to replenish potassium.

Salty foods and grapefruit can be harmful to patients taking blood pressure medication. Salty foods are one of the main causes that worsen hypertension. Excessive salt intake increases sodium concentration in blood vessels, which can raise blood pressure.

Past studies, such as one showing that over 70% of elderly Japanese with high salt intake have hypertension, confirm the correlation between sodium and high blood pressure, so salty foods should be avoided.

Another food to be cautious about is grapefruit. Grapefruit can interact with some blood pressure medications, especially calcium channel blockers (e.g., amlodipine). The compound “naringin” found in grapefruit interferes with enzymes in the liver that break down drugs, potentially causing the medication’s effect to become excessively strong. This can lead to excessively low blood pressure or side effects such as dizziness and headaches.

Experts emphasize that since diuretic blood pressure medications also cause potassium loss from the body, it is important to consistently consume potassium-rich foods.