Exploring A Low Calorie Diet For Hypertension
Many people only discover that they have hypertension when they go for a check-up with their physician. Having high blood pressure is bad news but while this is an irreversible condition, it can be managed. Managing blood pressure and keeping it within normal limits means adopting a healthy lifestyle, which includes a good hypertension diet.
Diet for Hypertension
Diets for hypertension will typically reduce sodium and cholesterol intake. Because most (though not all) people with hypertension tend to be overweight, it is quite common to find that a hypertensive person will be asked to follow a low calorie diet. Normally, this will mean not going beyond the required calorie intake for the energy needs of a specific age bracket. Often, however, clinics will compute the personal calorie requirement of a patient based on age, sex, and physical activeness
Usual Features of a Low Calorie Diet for Hypertension
A low calorie diet specifically for people with hypertension generally means restriction in foods like eggs, fried food, fatty meat, and rich pastries. Losing weight through a low calorie diet plan has proven to be the most effective and healthy means of weight loss. Planned carefully, the diet does not need to be tasteless or boring while providing people with a means to live a better, more balanced life.
The low calorie diet of course restricts the calorie count in a person's diet based on the person's current weight, height, body shape and past dieting experience. Usually, a low calorie diet plan will have a daily calorie allotment of 900-1400 calories. A diet with less than 800 calories, often referred to as VLCD (very low calorie diet) is not healthy.
Sample Recipes for a Low Calorie Diet for Hypertension
A low calorie diet for hypertension needs to be a healthy way to lose weight. It operates on the simple equation that using up more calories than you consume will ultimately cause weight loss. While this is indeed a challenge, there is no need for hypertensive people to dine on tasteless and unappetizing food – clearly an unsustainable way of life. Here are two sample recipes that show how a low calorie diet for people with hypertension can actually be very delicious.
Roasted Halibut with Banana and Citrus Relish
Ingredients:
• 1 pound halibut, cod (see Tips) or other white-fleshed fish
• 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
For the Banana-Orange Relish:
• 2 ripe bananas, diced
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated orange zest
• 2 oranges, peeled, segmented (see Tips) and chopped
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
Procedure:
1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly coat a baking sheet with cooking spray.
2. Cut fish into four portions. Mix coriander and salt in a small bowl and sprinkle evenly on both sides of the fish. Place fish on the prepared baking sheet.
3. Bake the fish until it is juicy and almost flakes when pressed with a knife, 8 to 12 minutes, depending on thickness.
4. Meanwhile, to prepare relish, stir together bananas, orange zest, chopped oranges, cilantro, lime juice, coriander and salt in a medium bowl. To serve, spoon the relish over the roasted fish.
Mussels in Tomato Soup
Ingredients:
• 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 6 ripe plum tomatoes, cored and coarsely chopped
• 1 cup dry white wine
• 3 pounds mussels, scrubbed and beards removed
• 2 teaspoons chopped fresh parsley
Procedure:
1. Warm oil in a large pot with a tight-fitting lid over low heat. Add garlic and cook, stirring, until golden, about 3 minutes.
2. Add tomatoes, increase the heat to high and stir for 1 minute more. Pour in wine and bring to a boil.
3. Add mussels, cover and steam, occasionally giving the pan a vigorous shake, until all the mussels have opened, 3 to 4 minutes. Discard any that do not open.
4. Transfer the mussels to a serving bowl. Spoon the broth over the mussels and sprinkle with parsley.
