Can high blood pressure be prevented by diet?
Although a small minority of cases of high blood pressure (also known as ‘hypertension’) are due to other diseases that may be curable by surgery or medication, most hypertension is now being attributed to inappropriate diet and lifestyle. By following the advice in this FAQ you will vastly reduce the risk of developing high blood pressure, which is the most important risk factor for stroke, and a major risk factor for heart disease. To reduce the risk of diet-related illness, including heart disease and stroke, our diet should be based on the Dietary Guidelines for Australians (see Appendix). Those of special importance to the prevention of hypertension are Guideline 1.1 “Eat plenty of vegetables (including legumes) and fruits”; Guideline 1.4 “Include milks, yoghurts, cheeses and/or alternatives. Reduced fat varieties should be chosen where possible”; and Guideline 1.7 “Choose foods low in salt”. Following these guidelines, and guideline 2.3 Limit your alcohol intake if you choose to
