Dealing with high blood pressure can be distressing, but it is also something that a lot of people have to manage.

Apart from making changes to your lifestyle, such as limiting your salt intake and exercising regularly, you also need to consider what you are drinking.

While you may be able to maintain your pressure levels by taking medication, consuming certain beverages can undo all of your efforts. Here is what you should avoid:.

1. Carbonated Beverages

Carbonated drinks such as soda, club soda, and other fizzy beverages can lead to spikes in your blood pressure levels.

They are loaded with refined sugar, which can cause insulin resistance, weight gain, and inflammation that raises your risk of hypertension.

2. Energy Drinks

Energy drinks are notorious for containing high amounts of caffeine and sugar. They are marketed as a great way to improve energy levels, but they put your heart under a lot of strain.

Excessive intake can result in irregular heartbeats or even cardiac arrest, which can raise the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

3. Alcohol

Alcohol is known to raise your blood pressure levels. When you drink, your blood pressure increases as your heart has to work harder to pump blood around your body.

If you binge drink, your pressure levels may rocket and cause serious health complications like arrhythmias and stroke.

4. Fruit Juices

While fruit juices are often marketed as healthy alternatives to soda, they are loaded with sugar. They are also stripped of all their fiber and nutrients, which can cause a spike in your blood sugar levels and blood pressure.

You are better off consuming fresh whole fruits instead of juice.

5. Coffee

While there is no denying that coffee has numerous health benefits, including brain stimulation and weight loss, consuming copious amounts of it can cause blood pressure spikes.

The caffeine in coffee can increase your blood pressure for up to three hours after consumption.

6. Sweetened Tea

Tea is known to have several health benefits, including antioxidant properties. However, sweetened tea is a different story altogether. It is loaded with sugar, which can cause insulin resistance and increase inflammation.

Consuming excessive amounts can also lead to weight gain, causing a spike in blood pressure levels.

7. Sports Drinks

Sports drinks are marketed like energy drinks, but they come with an average 21 grams of sugar per bottle. Some have higher sugar levels than soda, and they have little nutritional value.

Those undergoing hypertension treatment should avoid these drinks altogether.

8. Packaged Smoothies

Smoothies made from whole foods like fruit, vegetables, and nuts can be healthy and fiber-rich. Smoothies that are packed in containers are a different story.

They are loaded with sugar, preservatives, and additives, which can cause inflammation, insulin resistance, and weight gain leading to high blood pressure.

9. Dairy-Based Beverages

Dairy products are essential components of any balanced diet, but there are certain beverages that you should avoid if you are managing high blood pressure.

Heavy cream, whole milk, and other dairy-based beverages often have high amounts of saturated fat that trigger inflammation and instability in blood pressure levels.

10. Flavored Water

Flavored water is often marketed as being a better hydration alternative to sports drinks or soda. However, most of them are just sweetened beverages with a few drops of flavoring.

They often have added sugar or artificial sweeteners, and can cause spikes in your blood pressure.

Conclusion

Staying hydrated is essential, but you need to be careful about what you put into your body when managing high blood pressure.

Consuming too much of any of the beverages listed above can put your heart and blood pressure under a lot of strain, causing serious health issues. If you need to remain energized and hydrated, drink water, unsweetened tea, or coffee in moderation.