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Hypertension is a slowly progressive disease and many a times has been diagnosed during unrelated medical examination. The common types of hypertension cannot be cured but can be controlled effectively by change in life style, diet and medication alone or in combination. With good diet control, a person can lead a normal life. Diet is an integral part in the management for hypertension. Just by disciplining oneself on what one eats, we can surely reduce the medicine intake and sometimes get rid of it altogether. 

A low fat, low sodium and high potassium diet will help to lower high blood pressure. High intake of animal fat or hydrogenated oils, which contain saturated fatty acids, is better avoided. The cholesterol-rich foods such as liver, meat, organ meat, egg yolk, lobster, crab and prawns should be avoided. Poultry without the skin are better than other types of meat. The dietary oil should consist of vegetable oil - like corn oil, olive oil, and sunflower oil. Sodium can be restricted to 2- 3 gm. per day, whereas potassium intake should be increased especially with patients who are on a diet.

Apricots, tomato, chickoo, watermelon, banana, bitter gourd, bottle gourd, brinjal and potato should be included in the daily diet since they contain low sodium and high potassium. Avoid baking powder and soda in all the preparations. Avoid salty items like chips, pickles, canned and tinned foodstuff, salted butter and cheese, pappad, sea fish, dried fish, and salted meat Hypertensive patients with kidney disease should avoid a high intake of potassium, as it puts an excessive load on the kidney.

(Based on Net resources)