Consuming too much sodium is proven to raise blood pressure by narrowing blood vessels, simultaneously causing the heart to pump more blood into them. For this reason, it’s essential to learn which foods contain a lot of sodium and avoid them for your health’s sake. Unfortunately, many favorite snacks are packed with sodium.
Here are five savory snacks that you should avoid at all costs.
Sunflower Seeds
Once you start snacking on sunflower seeds, it’s hard to stop, especially at a baseball game or a road trip. However, these seeds are packed with sodium, with some products containing as much as 1,000 milligrams of sodium per serving.
Processed Meats, Cheese, and Crackers
Although this combination is the cornerstone of a perfect charcuterie board, it’s also a sodium fest that should be strictly avoided. Salt is a crucial ingredient for all three foods. It’s used to preserve processed meats, flavor cheese, and make crackers delicious.
Cheese Dips
Chips and cheese dip is another well-loved combination that people with high blood pressure should avoid. Dips, in particular, are very easy to consume in excess since it’s challenging to estimate their portion size.
Pickles
Pickles are incredibly high in sodium, which makes this filling snack not recommended for people with high blood pressure.
Bagels
When served with sweetened cream cheese, bagels might not taste salty. However, one plain bagel can contain 500 milligrams of sodium. In fact, all baked convenience items have quite a bit of sodium and should be avoided whenever possible. The same warning goes for bagel bites.
