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Dementia Mom, diagnosed with Hyper-tension.Mom does not cook on stove top to dangerous. Dr. put her on Lisinprol,Atenol and said call him in 21 days,, YA right, I need to start getting her pressure under control quickly, Any food ideas, NO spicey food she has a ulcer, Thank you

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That's actually a tough question. Normally I would say lots of fruits and veggies, but you have to be very careful while she takes Lisinopril. It tends to keep potassium in your system, and high potassium can make your heart race. Forget any frozen foods, they are all loaded with salt. Fresh foods with magnesium help. Make her a salad with fresh spinach, unsalted nuts and seeds, fresh apple pieces and sweet onion. Dark Chocolate is an excellent source of magnesium. One small glass of dry red wine is a vasodilator, give it at bedtime. Whole grains are good, Like Oatmeal and Bran Flakes.
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Garlic - fresh or in capsule or tablet form. Fresh is best - add to casseroles if your mum can cook food in her oven, chop or grate and spinkle over salads, and if she has a juicer, add one or two cloves of garlic every morning to the juice of whatever fruits she likes. The garlic won't overpower the flavour but will definitely lower the blood pressure. If you want to experiment - try one day with the juice and another without, and on both days measure her blood pressure at mid-day. You will see a difference.
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Have her stop eating all Animal Products. (See article in Washington Post today page A-3.
Also eliminate all canned foods, use fresh or frozen, no Carbonated drinks, no dairy products except butter. Use SILK Milk either Soy or Almond Milk. Soy is good for women, it has Estrogen not good for men. Lots of Vetigables & Fruit. Chicken and Turkey breast and ocean fish No shell fish (They cause blood Pressure to go up.You may also try Gluten Free Diet. I have been on this life style for over 30 years and I'm is great health at 88 years of age.
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Also don't use an substitutes use the real things, such as butter. Nothing with the word "Diet" in the name; No artificial anything.
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You could try the DASH diet (Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension); Mayo Clinic has a good page describing it:
http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/dash-diet/art-20048456

Did the doctor say what her target BP should be? For frailer older adults, aiming for a systolic in the 140s is usually good. I ask because it sounds like she was started on two medications, which seems like a lot.

A recently published Yale study just found that blood pressure medication in older adults is associated with a higher risk of serious falls. Treating high blood pressure is important but studies show that the main benefit is in getting high blood pressure from 170s-180s down to 140s-150s. After that it's hard to show benefit in bringing it lower, and the chance of side-effects goes up.

In my experience, older adults are often on more high blood pressure than they likely need...a little medication can go a long way in older adults, and many busy docs underestimate the downsides of over-treating (falls, dizziness, cost of meds, pill burden, etc.)

If you can get a home BP machine and check on your own every day (or every few days) while the doctor is figuring out the right treatment for her, that will help him find the right doses more quickly.

Good luck.
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Cut out Salt and sodium containing foods if you want quick results.
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Search for unsalted almonds, cashews, and peanuts if the doctor approves. Use the process of elimination i.e. read the labels and you'll learn which brands have the least sodium. Even foods like peanut butter can be heavy with sodium, fat, and sugar. Once in awhile I have seen no salt spaghetti sauce. I saw a list one time that claimed Wal Mart sold a lower sodium baking powder. I verified the product is manufactured, but not always available. When making soups, I add more onion or garlic. If using ham in the soup, I buy a reduced sodium packet of diced ham - a refrigerator item. There are now some lower sodium chicken and beef broths and soups - very necessary if you use any processed foods. The more fresh foods you can use the better. If you're like most, you only have a limited time to cook for others, so don't force yourself to overdue in the beginning. There is always that urge to fix it quickly, but gradually is probably more realistic. If you discover any good tips - let us know. Controlling sodium in the diet is always a challenge regardless of our time, cooking skills, and food budgets.
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No salt or prepared foods. They are all loaded with the stuff. I may a turkey or some large roasted meat on sunday so we can cut sandwich meat all week. Works like a charm. Same thing with collard greens for FIL who loves them, also can make a stew and freeze in individual containers for quick meals. I have had HBP for 20 years and there really is a marked difference if I cheat on the diet.. vigilant every day!
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cantilope melon, non-salted peanut butter
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Sky, will she be reliable about taking the meds? That is the first important consideration. My mom was put on meds and her blood pressure continues to be too high. She claimed to be taking the pills every day, but we knew she couldn't be and still have many left as she did. Doctor said she couldn't adjust the dose without knowing what Mom was taking now logically enough). When we got a visiting nurse involved and she took the pills regularly no dose change was needed.

Along with the pills reducing sodium intake is helpful. Did the doctor explain that? Any healthy foods and a few treats should be fine, but read labels for sodium content! Not all frozen dinners are created equal in the regard. Labels tell the story.
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This is not a difficult thing--acid vs. alkaline balance most important. Beef, for instance, has a high salt value. Raw foods are best which provide natural enzymes, like grated apple carrot salad. If the carrot is difficult, put in a food processor. I like apple, carrot, beet salad. Lettuce is especially good for hypertension. Frozen fish cooked in a microwave with rice. No spices, salt, or cheese. ( I find feta works for me). Cook vegetables in microwave. Broccoli with lemon or a little salt free butter or substitute. Make your own salad dressing. Use lemon or vinegar with olive oil. I use mashed raw garlic as well, you may not enjoy this. Cranberry-apple sauce with cinnamon, add agave sweetener. Make your own sprouts from lentils, peas, seeds. Try these simple easy recipes. No coffee, use green tea instead. Coconut milk is very available these days and delicious, instead of diary milk. Bon appetite!
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This is not a difficult thing--acid vs. alkaline balance most important. Beef, for instance, creates acidity in the blood, has a high salt value. Raw foods are best which provide natural enzymes, like grated apple carrot salad. If the carrot is difficult, put in a food processor. I like apple, carrot, beet salad. Lettuce is especially good for hypertension. Frozen fish cooked in a microwave with rice. No spices, salt, or cheese. ( I find feta works for me). Cook vegetables in microwave. Broccoli with lemon or a little salt free butter or substitute. Make your own salad dressing. Use lemon or vinegar with olive oil. I use mashed raw garlic as well, you may not enjoy this. Cranberry-apple sauce with cinnamon, add agave sweetener. Make your own sprouts from lentils, peas, seeds. Try these simple easy recipes. No coffee, use green tea instead. Coconut milk is very available these days and delicious, instead of diary milk. Bon appetite!
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As for salt you are safe using Himalayan Pink Salt it's very safe.
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Sorry Mary but Himalayan pink salt is 98% sodium chloride like any other rock salt. No good for high BP.
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Something very easy that I was told about years ago by a doctor was eating celery. I believe it was 3 stalks a day. I don't know how your Mom might do with eating that much celery but I wanted to go a "health route" verses medication if possible.

I must say however that I did wind up having to go on a water pill, which I dislike but the difference was amazing. Prior to pill I felt like every vessel in my body and face was expanded and ready to burst, after water pill everything seemed to shrink down and I felt normal.

Check out Dr Oz's site. You can search by topics.
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Himalayan pink salt has 84 minerals and is much better than regular salt. I would google it or even ask your doctor. I myself take meds for hypertension and I started at 40 mg and for the last 4 yrs have been taking 10 mg and my B/P is controlled. Instead I got breast cancer last May.
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Haviing worked in a congestive heart failure clinic, we educated our patients about the use of salt, sodium containing foods. The foods containing salt or people adding salt to their food was killing them. We once had a patient who's blood levels had risen extremely high. He insisted he did not have salt. When asked what he ate yesterday, he said "I had 2 hotdogs for lunch". People with hypertension need to reduce the amount of salt/sodium. Period!
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Mary, please make your MD aware of the Himalayan rock salt. It contains 400 ppm of Lithium, which is known to proliferate some types of Breast Cancer. Bring him a sample of what you are using, in the original container.
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Read labels. When we started looking at labels for Mom and Dad a few years ago, it was shocking how much sodium was in foods that were presumably. Make a list of your mom's favorite foods and veggies (i am not sure, but i think celery has soduim) and look them up. Write down the sodium and carb amounts (the world food people just today reduced the sugars recommended to half the past amount). Then think of "stir fry" type of meals. Chopped veggies, fish, chicken, turkey, less red meat, eggs. Bring your mom some meals set up for microwave each or every other day. Also lemon grass (lemon zinger tea) can help flush out water, as does, oddly, more water. Keep her hydrated. My Dad loves fresh fruit for desert. He also loves Oatmeal.
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good list of veggies and contents: megaheart.com
Himalayan Pink Salt: 1/8th tsp 380 mg sodium
Sea Salt: 1/8 tsp 280 mg sodium
Table Salt?? I don't have
One large stalk celery 50 mg sodium
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First, get a pre and probiotic. Ulcers are caused by the bacterial infection H.pyloria which also responds to an antibiotic. It took a long time for the medical profession to recognize this was a bacteria and not caused by stress.
Get a Nutri-Bullet and blend frozen fruits and veggies, with ginger and cinnamon plus Stevia as a natural sweetener, and blend. This blender includes all the pulp in the finished drink and I blend this every day for myself. Stay away from red meats and add salmon, water packed tuna, and stay away from processed meats and snacks. I brought my cholesterol down 20 points (175)and have always had a great B/P 110/72. Best wishes!
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Thank You, I also juice....
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Lots of good ideas. Might want to have dr refer you over to a nutritionist either in his office or at the local hospital who can work with you and mom to devise some easy recipes and snacks. This way, they can work with mom on her medications too, suggesting comparable diet and maybe even suggesting ways to take doses at various intervals, etc.
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I meant compatible diet....
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