Headachs, shortness of breath, dizziness, chest pain, blurred vision and fatigue. Does any of this sound familar ? Well, this is just some of the symptoms realted to high blood pressure. Having high blood pressure can greatly increase your chance of a stroke, heart attack, kidney disease, etc. Most things today have high amounts of sodium or sugar. Especially most pre-made frozen meals, canned goods , Sodas, Juices and take out. As a child, this was practically all I knew. Dinner time consisted of microwaving multiple frozen food dinners without a vegetable in sight. Over time, I could see the changes in my family. Uncles and aunts became overweight, developed high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes, and lacked the motivation to exercise. Luckily, I only suffered from head achs. Yet that alone caused me to make drastic changes as a teenager to break the cycle.
- I gave up pork in 2012 and mostly use chicken and sometimes turkey.
- Only use sodium free seasonings.
- Don’t buy pre packaged frozen meals.
- I cook the majority of my food and opt for take out twice every 3 months.
- Read labels carefully for hidden ingredients.
- Buy water only.
- Excerise every day. My new love is taking 2 hour walks.
- Substitute fruit for candy and Baking all sweets at home so I can control the sugar.
- Incorporating veggies into my breakfast as well as dinner.
- Opting to bake or grill more often instead of fried.
As you can see, life is about balance. I made gradual changes, And now I have no head achs, more energy and no bloating. These changes will look different for everyone. However, I challenge you to start small and make those changes. Your body will thank you.
