Five Dietary Guidelines for Hypertension Patients: What to Eat and What to Avoid
Last year, the State Council released the "Survey on Nutrition and Health Status of Chinese Residents," revealing a sharp rise in chronic non-communicable diseases linked to lifestyle. National health conditions are concerning. Increasing public awareness and promoting healthy lifestyles are critical first-line defenses against chronic diseases. Recently, the Department of Disease Control, the News Office of the Ministry of Health, and the China Journalists Association jointly launched the "China Health Knowledge Dissemination Incentive Program," with hypertension prevention and control taking priority. Hypertensive patients should follow dietary principles. Below are specific recommended and restricted foods:
Carbohydrates
Recommended — Rice, congee, noodles, taro, soft legumes.
To Avoid — Sweet potatoes (gas-producing foods), dried legumes, strongly flavored biscuits.
Proteins
Recommended — Low-fat foods (tender beef, lean pork, fish), eggs, milk and dairy products (whipping cream, yogurt, ice cream, cheese), soy products (tofu, soy flour, tofu threads).
To Avoid — High-fat foods (beef, pork belly, spare ribs, scaleless fish), processed meats (sausages, etc.).
Fats
Recommended — Plant oils, small amounts of cream, salad dressing.
To Avoid — Animal fats, lard, smoked meats, oil-packed sardines.
Vitamins and Minerals
Recommended — Vegetables (spinach, cabbage, carrots, tomatoes, lotus root, pumpkin, eggplant, cucumber), fruits (apples, peaches, oranges, pears, grapes, watermelon), seaweed, fungi.
To Avoid — Hard-fiber vegetables (bamboo shoots, corn), strongly stimulating vegetables (aromatic vegetables like shepherd’s purse, scallions, coriander).
Other Foods
Recommended — Light tea, yeast milk drinks.
To Avoid — Aromatic spices (chili, mustard, curry powder), alcoholic beverages, coffee, strong tea, carbonated drinks, salted foods (salted vegetables, salted fish roe, dishes cooked with salty soy sauce, pickled vegetables).