Are Kippers Good for High Blood Pressure? (Expert Answer)

Short Answer: Kippers are good for high blood pressure because they have omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin B12, which can lower blood pressure and prevent anemia.

High blood pressure is a condition that affects your arteries, which are the vessels that carry blood from your heart to the rest of your body.

In high blood pressure, your body has a higher than normal force of blood pushing against the artery walls.

This can lead to various health problems, such as heart attack, stroke, kidney damage and vision loss.

One of the key factors in managing high blood pressure is diet.

What you consume can affect your blood pressure levels, which can impact your high blood pressure symptoms and overall health.

To effectively manage high blood pressure, you should consume omega-3 fatty acids rich foods like salmon, sardines and walnuts and avoid sodium rich foods like processed meats, canned soups and salty snacks.

Now, kippers are smoked herring, a small, oily fish that is high in omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin B12.

People usually eat kippers for breakfast or as a snack, either cold or heated up.

Kippers are good for high blood pressure because they contain omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin B12, which can help lower blood pressure and prevent anemia.

However, kippers are also high in sodium, which can raise blood pressure if consumed in excess.

A 3-ounce serving of kippers can give you about 1.8 grams of omega-3 fatty acids (360% of your daily needs), 6.4 micrograms of vitamin B12 (267% of your daily needs) and 781 milligrams of sodium (34% of your daily limit).

Omega-3 fatty acids can positively affect high blood pressure by reducing inflammation, improving blood vessel function and lowering heart rate.

Vitamin B12 can positively affect high blood pressure by supporting red blood cell production and preventing anemia, which can cause low blood pressure.

Sodium can negatively affect high blood pressure by increasing fluid retention, which can increase blood volume and pressure.

Furthermore, kippers are a type of oily fish and oily fish is good for high blood pressure.

Because, oily fish provides a good source of protein, vitamin D and calcium, which are important for heart health and bone health.

You can eat one or two servings of kippers per week safely.

More than that can cause excessive sodium intake, which can increase your risk of high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke.

Also, you shouldn’t eat kippers if you have kidney problems or are on a low-sodium diet to prevent high blood pressure.

Because, kippers can worsen your kidney function and increase your sodium intake.

You can buy fresh or canned kippers in your local market or can order them online.

Always choose kippers that are from sustainable sources and have a clear label of ingredients and nutrition facts.

Because, some kippers may contain additives, preservatives or artificial colors that can affect your health.

You can store fresh kippers in the refrigerator for up to two days or in the freezer for up to three months.

You can store canned kippers in a cool, dry place for up to a year.

Finally, remember, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet, regular exercise, stress management and essential medical care is key to managing high blood pressure effectively.

I always recommend my high blood pressure patients to follow a high blood pressure-friendly diet to improve their overall well-being and enjoy a longer and healthier life.

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About the Author

Abdur Rahman Choudhury

Abdur Rahman Choudhury is a nutritionist in West Bengal, India, with a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Biochemistry.

He has done his diploma in nutrition from Fabulous Body Inc (US), and completed various certification courses from several universities. He also has considerable research experience in PCOS.

Abdur currently lives in India and keeps fit by weight training and eating mainly home-cooked meals.

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