- Water
- Sparkling water without added sugar
- Unsweetened tea
- Unsweetened coffee
- Water infused with fruit or herbs
You don’t necessarily have to eliminate every sweet drink forever. The goal is to make low-sugar beverages the default rather than consuming sugary drinks every day.
What Should You Eat Instead?
Avoiding certain foods is only half the story. A heart-friendly diet should also include plenty of foods that provide potassium, magnesium, fiber, and other nutrients.
Fruits and Vegetables
Bananas, oranges, berries, leafy greens, tomatoes, potatoes, beans, and many other fruits and vegetables provide potassium.
Potassium plays an important role in fluid balance and blood pressure regulation. For some people, increasing dietary potassium while reducing sodium can support healthier blood pressure.
However, people with kidney disease or certain medications may need to limit potassium. If that applies to you, talk with your healthcare professional before significantly increasing potassium-rich foods.
Whole Grains
Oatmeal, brown rice, whole-grain bread, barley, and other whole grains provide fiber and nutrients that can fit into a blood-pressure-friendly eating pattern.
