Learn more about ‘What Are The Drinks To Keep Off During The Holidays If You Have High Blood Pressure’ the holidays may be challenging for you to manage. Even though it is only natural to want to indulge in all of the traditional snacks and goodies, people who are managing their blood pressure are aware that they need to watch how much salt and sugar they consume in order to keep their blood pressure under control.
The DASH diet, which is high in fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds as well as concentrating on the micronutrients calcium, magnesium, and potassium, is one of the most tried-and-true diets to follow while regulating blood pressure. In addition, it is advised that males limit their alcohol consumption to two drinks per day and women to one.
A alcoholic beverage or a caffeine boost may be on your mind if you are spending the holidays with your in-laws who may bring up too many political themes or if you are tearing your hair out simply trying to keep up with all of your Christmas activities. However, drinking too much alcohol or caffeine is not a good idea if you want to control your blood pressure. Additionally, you may want to reconsider what you are putting in your cup if you enjoy drinking sweet or salty beverages.
Of all, there is no need to forgo a festive and delectable beverage throughout the holiday season. But if you have high blood pressure, you might want to avoid these beverages if you are concerned about maintaining a healthy blood pressure level.
Egg Nog
The traditional Christmas beverage is made with full milk, heavy cream, sugar, and typically alcohol. The DASH diet does include dairy products, but it recommends low-fat varieties, so heavy cream would not be a good choice. Egg nog is one of the worst holiday beverages since it contains added sugar, which also raises blood pressure.
Sugary Seasonal Coffee Drinks
Many holiday coffee beverages are fatty and filled with sugar. As an illustration, consider the Starbucks Toasted White Chocolate Mocha.
According to Carly Fenimore, MS, RD, LDN, owner of Fertility RD, this Toasted White Chocolate Mocha contributes approximately 1/5 of the American Heart Association’s suggested daily consumption with 380 milligrams of salt in a 16-ounce cup.
“This beverage is not adding much holiday cheer to anyone’s blood pressure and general health,” the author says. “Add on the 420 calories, equivalent to a small meal, topped off with the 10 grams of saturated fat (50% of the recommended daily intake), and 55 grams of sugar (double the recommended daily serving for women, 19 grams above the allowance for men).
Why are these components important? According to board-certified sports dietitian Roxana Ehsani, MS, RD, CSSD, LDN, both sugar and caffeine can temporarily raise blood pressure readings.
Hot Buttered Rum
For those who are concerned about their heart health, consuming a beverage made with actual melted butter is not recommended. Even though this drink is rich and tasty, adding alcohol may make it too heavy in saturated fat and alcohol for those controlling their blood pressure.
Since more butter consumption is linked to noticeably higher blood pressure, this beverage should be avoided over the holidays.
Creamy Espresso Martini
Despite having additional sweets, caffeine, and cream, the fashionable drink that is becoming viral on social media has all three of the drink elements that should be avoided for blood pressure control. A modest cup of coffee might be a preferable choice for a nightcap. For a little more warmth, top your coffee with some chocolate and cinnamon.
Holiday Punch
Some people find it impossible to imagine a Christmas celebration without a sizable bowl of punch. Drinking this punch, which is frequently created with extremely sweet ingredients and copious amounts of alcohol, could be too much for people with high blood pressure to handle without feeling the consequences.
Energy Drinks
For many people, the holidays may be enjoyable, but they can also be chaotic and demanding. An energy drink may sound like the perfect solution for folks who are struggling to wrap gifts, do all of their holiday baking, and sign all of their Christmas cards.
However, people who already have hypertension may have unfavorable consequences from excessive coffee on their blood pressure. Additionally, the additional sugar present in many energy drinks won’t help your blood pressure either. If you need a burst of energy, you are better off allowing yourself to take a sleep in the middle of the day.
Bloody Mary
Bloody Marys and holiday breakfasts go hand in hand. But traditional varieties of this beverage are very heavy in sodium, a mineral known to raise blood pressure. It could be preferable to have a brunch cocktail like a 100% orange juice mimosa. In fact, research suggests that orange juice may help lower blood pressure in part because of a plant chemical called hesperidin that is included in this citrus beverage.
Although orange juice may complement a diet that lowers blood pressure, this does not mean that you should regularly consume too many mimosas. It’s still crucial to evaluate the potential long-term effects that alcohol and additional sugar may have on your heart health.
