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Foods that raise blood pressure

, medical expert
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025
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Low blood pressure is talked about and written about much less than high blood pressure. Although it is also fraught with serious problems. But there is good news: hypotensive patients can not only not limit themselves in food, but on the contrary, eat pickles and products that increase blood pressure, which hypertensive patients are forced to constantly deny themselves.

What foods increase blood pressure?

It would seem, why would anyone need to know which foods increase blood pressure? Usually, it is the other way around: people make adjustments to their diet to reduce high blood pressure.

In fact, products that increase blood pressure are needed by people suffering from low blood pressure. This problem occurs less often than hypertension, but it is no less troublesome. Self-medication for hypotension is unacceptable, but you can independently improve the condition with the help of certain products that increase blood pressure. These include the following groups:

  • Salty ones bind water.

Smoked foods and spicy dishes constrict blood vessels and stimulate secretory activity.

  • Fatty foods increase the amount of cholesterol, which slows down blood flow and increases blood pressure.

High-calorie baked goods – the high carbohydrate content leads to narrowing of the lumen of blood vessels.

  • Coffee, black tea and caffeinated sodas have a stimulating effect.

Salty mineral water increases blood volume.

  • Starchy foods (potatoes, semolina, pasta) can also increase blood pressure.

Nuts are useful as a source of fats and amino acids.

  • Decoctions of lemongrass, leuzea, and ginseng are natural blood pressure stimulants.

The menu for people with low blood pressure requires plant foods – lemons and other sources of vitamin C, vegetables, and various nuts.

The products mentioned certainly increase blood pressure, but most of them are harmful to the body. Therefore, everyone must decide how and how much to consume them. It is one thing if we are talking about a single intake, and quite another to constantly eat such food. The truth is in the middle, and this also applies to nutrition.

The same can be said about red wine, which maintains blood pressure and enriches with antioxidants. This product is recommended for people who are not fond of alcohol. A glass of the drink occasionally will bring pleasure and benefit, but abuse is both harmful to health and a social evil.

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Drinks that increase blood pressure

The general rule is that sweet drinks increase blood pressure, and sour drinks decrease it. In case of hypotension, frequent warm drinks are recommended. The most popular drinks that increase blood pressure are coffee, cocoa, tea, especially green tea with sugar and lemon, hot chocolate, and sweetened sodas. Drinks that have a diuretic effect are not recommended: cranberry and lingonberry fruit drinks, beer, and fresh milk.

Tonic drinks that increase blood pressure include decoctions of ginger root, rose hips, sea buckthorn, and rowan.

A proven remedy is red beetroot juice, which is taken in a weekly course of 200 ml per day.

Pomegranate juice and dried fruit infusion also have a tonic effect.

  • Red wine diluted with mineral water in moderate doses tones and enriches with antioxidant components.

It is useful to drink fresh smoothies and kefir at night.

Biologically active herbal tinctures (eleutherococcus, lemongrass, St. John's wort, ginseng) are taken on the recommendation of a doctor.

Drinks that have a diuretic effect are not recommended: cranberry and lingonberry juice, beer, fresh milk.

It is important to know that the same drink may have different effectiveness in different people. You should drink what suits you personally.

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Foods that increase blood pressure during pregnancy

Hypotension in women often occurs during pregnancy. It is accompanied by weakness, dizziness, nausea, apathy. This is an unpleasant condition that poses a danger to the fetus. Since not all medications are indicated and there are no special diets, the question arises about products that increase blood pressure during pregnancy.

Commonly accepted products that increase blood pressure include the following:

  • Pickles, spicy and smoked foods cause thirst, which is quenched by drinking plenty of fluids.
  • Fatty foods make it difficult for blood to move, which causes blood pressure to rise.
  • Energy drinks and chocolate contain caffeine.
  • Cakes and pastries are rich in carbohydrates, which constrict blood vessels.
  • Lettuce, cabbage, carrots are vegetable blood pressure stimulants.
  • Fruits and berries enriched with flavonoids normalize blood pressure in pregnant women.
  • Cinnamon is the most popular spice. It has a positive effect on appetite, which is often poor in hypotensive patients. It is added to drinks, jams, and baked goods.

Pregnant women should consult a doctor in all cases of illness. With his or her consent, a woman can independently compose a diet at home from products that increase blood pressure. With low blood pressure, sturgeon caviar, currants, sea buckthorn, rosehip infusion, strong tea, beef liver will help a pregnant woman.

In addition, a hypotonic woman should get enough sleep and rest, eat often and in small amounts, avoid stress, not overwork herself and restore her strength in time. It is important to strengthen the immune system and increase the overall tone of the body in advance.

What foods should not be eaten if you have high blood pressure?

Moderation is an important condition of nutrition. For health, eat in doses, several times a day. Drinking volume is up to 1.5 liters, including liquid dishes. Products that increase blood pressure are limited or completely excluded.

The restrictions concern salt, fatty dairy products, fruits and grape juice, sweets, mushrooms. You should not abuse cucumbers, legumes, spinach and sorrel.

What foods are prohibited for high blood pressure? All caffeinated drinks are prohibited. The diet for hypertension consists of unsalted, non-spicy, non-fatty, non-fried dishes. Offal is undesirable, in particular, brains, kidneys and liver.

Honey, jam, and confectionery are allowed in minimal quantities. Of the drinks, preference is given to pure water and unsweetened uzvar. Of the soups, vegetable, milk, and occasionally, those prepared in low-fat broth.

Mayonnaise and fatty sour cream should be replaced with vegetable oil, and apples and apricots should be chosen from fruits. It is allowed to drink a glass of quality red wine occasionally.

This diet brings double benefits: it normalizes blood pressure and helps you lose extra pounds. And normalizing your weight has a positive effect on your blood vessels and heart.

Products that increase blood pressure and hemoglobin

Often, a decrease in pressure is observed simultaneously with a lack of hemoglobin - anemia. It occurs as a result of pregnancy, breastfeeding, seasonal vitamin deficiency, and various diseases. The danger is that a lack of iron causes a lack of oxygen, primarily in the brain and kidneys.

Among the products that increase blood pressure and hemoglobin, animal products are in first place. But plant products that increase blood pressure and contain iron are also necessary in the diet. Here are these products:

  • beef, liver, offal;
  • seafood, caviar, yolk;
  • buckwheat, corn, barley, oatmeal;
  • butter;
  • legumes, spinach;
  • from vegetables – tomatoes, carrots, potatoes, beets;
  • mushrooms, especially dried porcini;
  • nuts, berries, especially mulberries;
  • from fruits - apple, banana, peach, apricot;
  • pomegranate juice;
  • chocolate, ice cream.

In some patients, iron is not absorbed into the blood, so products that increase blood pressure and hemoglobin will not help. In such cases, an examination is required to determine the cause of this condition and eliminate it with medications.

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Foods that increase blood pressure in old age

Pressure fluctuations bother people of different ages, however, due to the wear and tear of adaptation mechanisms, they progress over time. Hypotension is relatively less common than hypertension. Treatment can eliminate the problem, and a diet of certain foods that increase blood pressure in old age can alleviate the condition.

It should be borne in mind that not all products that increase blood pressure are recommended for older people. The following foods are suitable:

  • pickles;
  • spices (vanillin, cardamom, ginger, turmeric);
  • spices, onions, garlic;
  • lettuce, greens, leafy vegetables;
  • coffee, tea;
  • chocolate;
  • honey;
  • dried fruits;
  • nuts, cereals, muesli;
  • fruits, berries;
  • rosehip and rowan decoctions;
  • buckwheat;
  • beef, liver.

In case of a hypotonic crisis, i.e. a sharp drop in pressure, it is advisable to have “first aid” products on hand – a handful of salted peanuts, canapés with butter and cheese, sweet tea or candy. Salty foods will balance microelements and retain water, sweet foods will eliminate hypoglycemia, which can be a provoking factor for hypotension.

There are no special diets for hypotensive patients. But compared to hypertensive patients, they are lucky: they can eat everything, but in small amounts. The priority is healthy eating without any special restrictions or excesses. In addition to products that increase blood pressure and fractional meals, hypotensive patients are recommended physical activity, sleep and rest regimen.

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