Low blood pressure & trying to lose weight

thevyrismark2
thevyrismark2 Posts: 36 Member
edited November 26 in Health and Weight Loss
I was wondering if it's dangerous to cut back on sugar and meat when my iron level and blood pressure are dangerously low. I usually need at least some sugar to even function, but it's not helping my weight. Is there a replacement besides pills or anything in that price range? (I weigh 72kg, so it's not really overweight, but I want to reach 50)

Replies

  • Annie_01
    Annie_01 Posts: 3,096 Member
    Get advice from your doctor or a dietitian. Don't put your health in the hands of internet strangers.

    "DANGEROUSLY LOW'

    Your doctor should have you on some type of medication.
  • thevyrismark2
    thevyrismark2 Posts: 36 Member
    I went to a doctor to get tested in the first place. He couldn't help me because I'm short on money. That's just how these things go here. That's why I was asking about cheaper solutions that won't make me gain weight.
  • RuNaRoUnDaFiEld
    RuNaRoUnDaFiEld Posts: 5,864 Member
    You could speak to your Dr about building liquorice in to your diet, that has blood pressure raising properties.

    Also ask about building in egg whites and cottage cheese for the tyrosine content.
  • thevyrismark2
    thevyrismark2 Posts: 36 Member
    I have to be careful with liquorice. I only like the really salty ones, so I shouldn't have too much of those. I guess I could spare €50 if I cut back on fruit and ask about the rest. Isn't all cheese bad for a diet though?
  • Annie_01
    Annie_01 Posts: 3,096 Member
    I undrstand about short on money...

    Where do you live? Many countries have some type of assistance to help with funding your medications.
  • WBB55
    WBB55 Posts: 4,131 Member
    i wrote a longer reply, but have decided the only advice I can give some one claiming dangerously low blood pressure and iron is to focus on what's important. Loosing weight should not be your goal, if what you said is true. Get healthy first. Losing weight is hard on the body, and it will only make any nutritional deficiencies you have worse -- unless you're following a plan tailored to you by your doctor and dietician, because these people know your medical history and have seen your blood work numbers. We haven't. Get on the track to health first, then worry about losing weight.
  • Pawsforme
    Pawsforme Posts: 645 Member
    You really need to get advice from a medical professional.

    But define "dangerously."

    My understanding is that low BP isn't a problem unless you're having symptoms. At least that's what I was told by numerous medical professionals when I was younger and my BP ran around 95/55. It's something most of the females on my father's side of the family deal with, and none of us have ever been told it's a problem.

    Sugar and meat consumption (or lack thereof) probably don't have much if any effect on BP anyway.

    Anemia is another issue entirely. You do need to consume adequate amounts of iron to help with that. Most often a supplement is recommended. It's hard for many menstruating women to consume adequate amounts of iron from food even if they're not dieting.
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    All foods are good for health and it is better if you have a variety. Losing weight is about controlling portions. I have eaten cheese throughout as I have lost over eighty pounds.

    But I think your chief goal is to get enough iron and bring your blood pressure up.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    edited November 2015
    This content has been removed.
  • nordlead2005
    nordlead2005 Posts: 1,303 Member
    thevyrismark2 wrote: »
    Isn't all cheese bad for a diet though?

    When it comes to weight loss, the only food that is bad for a diet is the one that puts you over your calorie goal. It could be anything from a chocolate chip cookie to kale (or the super health food of choice). So, in terms of weight loss, cheese is perfectly fine. Sugar isn't the enemy either.

    However, your case is special. You can't just go based on calories, but instead based on what you need to stay healthy. If you can propose a macro/micro nutrient goal to your doctor that he is happy with (or have them develop) that also creates a small calorie deficit then you can lose weight, but I wouldn't do it without running it past your doctor and getting approval. Overall health is more important than losing a few lb and having to visit the ER.

    As for not having money, most people do but fail to prioritize/budget. As you said, you can swing 50EUR. Those are the hard choices you have to make.
  • Bloodypatronus
    Bloodypatronus Posts: 1 Member
    I also have a low pressure, but it's not that bad (I just feel like fainting when it's hot in the room or when I'm emotionally tired from people; and weather, of course). Basically, I'm just having a few cups of coffee a day or/and dark chocolate bar and it helps me to feel great. Doctors researched my heart and I have meds, but they are only relieving symptoms, so I don't use them.
  • andylllI
    andylllI Posts: 379 Member
    I used to work with a am cardiologist that would recommend a cup of broth (salt load) a day for women with symptoms of low blood pressure, especially that feeling of "about to pass out when I stand up too fast". I tried it and it worked for me also I found when I was in a deficit that a high salt content in my food kept those feelings of "faint" away. This assumes, of course, that heart and kidney function is normal. And Tbh there are some serious medical conditions that present the same way so please get checked out.
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    I have low blood pressure...90/60 is my normal. As long as I drink lots of water I am good.

    As for the low iron are you sure? I go between too low iron (if I cycle) to High iron (when using BC and no cycle)

    To get iron you need red meat, liver esp or other things like leafy greens...my fave is fiddle heads or spinach or beans, grains breads and cereal fortified with iron.



  • thevyrismark2
    thevyrismark2 Posts: 36 Member
    I have been tested for both blood pressure and iron. I've been tested for iron when I was a teenager, when I was pregnant, after my son was born and recently. Oddly enough the only time when my iron levels were perfect was when I was pregnant. I've been tested for blood pressure after my son was born because that's when I started feeling faint. I've been tested recently as well and there were no changes. It's a bit weird since high blood pressure runs in the family. I've had iron pills on prescription when I was 14, but they made me throw up. I'd rather just fix this naturally. I will visit a doctor when I can though.
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    thevyrismark2 wrote: »
    I have been tested for both blood pressure and iron. I've been tested for iron when I was a teenager, when I was pregnant, after my son was born and recently. Oddly enough the only time when my iron levels were perfect was when I was pregnant. I've been tested for blood pressure after my son was born because that's when I started feeling faint. I've been tested recently as well and there were no changes. It's a bit weird since high blood pressure runs in the family. I've had iron pills on prescription when I was 14, but they made me throw up. I'd rather just fix this naturally. I will visit a doctor when I can though.

    For the iron that's easy...as I mentioned I go up and down depending on BC method. Leafy greens are great and beans and red meat esp liver if you can eat it...iron fortified cereal.

    Blood pressure what is it???? Low blood pressure symptoms such as dizziness and faint can be prevented by staying hydrated and ensuring you are getting enough salt...not so much sugar. I found to get "normal" blood pressure coffee helps or tea...
  • NikiChicken
    NikiChicken Posts: 576 Member
    I have very low blood pressure - to the point that it is normal for me to get light-headed when I stand up. It has not hampered my weight loss in the least. Drink water - as much as you can stand. Staying well hydrated will certainly help your blood pressure and I can definitely tell when I am dehydrated by how I feel when I stand up. Eating sugar, however, doesn't have any affect on blood pressure. Eating SALT may help some, but definitely not sugar. Sugar will affect your blood glucose, not blood pressure.

    To increase your iron, try to eat foods high in iron such as red meat, pork, poultry, seafood, beans, dark green leafy vegetables (spinach and kale, for example), dried fruit, iron-fortified cereals, breads and pastas and peas.
  • ElJefeChief
    ElJefeChief Posts: 650 Member
    My blood pressure has dropped significantly since losing weight, which makes standing up quickly sometimes a mildly dangerous affair (near blacking out on a couple of occasions).

    My doctor ran some tests, checked me out, and said it was benign, and advised me to eat more salt. Which I thought was awesome. Because I love salt.
  • azulvioleta6
    azulvioleta6 Posts: 4,195 Member
    Why would you eat less meat? That won't help your diet at all.

    I also have extremely low blood pressure and don't use added sugar at all. I eat a moderate-carb diet, so I'm not even getting much natural sugar. Sugar consumption is very much beside the point.

    I agree with what has been stated above--stay very well hydrated and make sure that you are getting enough salt.
  • krithsai
    krithsai Posts: 668 Member
    andylllI wrote: »
    I used to work with a am cardiologist that would recommend a cup of broth (salt load) a day for women with symptoms of low blood pressure, especially that feeling of "about to pass out when I stand up too fast". I tried it and it worked for me also I found when I was in a deficit that a high salt content in my food kept those feelings of "faint" away. This assumes, of course, that heart and kidney function is normal. And Tbh there are some serious medical conditions that present the same way so please get checked out.

    This. This is what I do. I tried to do salt free days at the advice of my nutritionist and noticed my head rushes coming back and I stopped that in a hurry.
  • hekla90
    hekla90 Posts: 595 Member
    Pawsforme wrote: »
    You really need to get advice from a medical professional.

    But define "dangerously."

    My understanding is that low BP isn't a problem unless you're having symptoms. At least that's what I was told by numerous medical professionals when I was younger and my BP ran around 95/55. It's something most of the females on my father's side of the family deal with, and none of us have ever been told it's a problem.

    Sugar and meat consumption (or lack thereof) probably don't have much if any effect on BP anyway.

    Anemia is another issue entirely. You do need to consume adequate amounts of iron to help with that. Most often a supplement is recommended. It's hard for many menstruating women to consume adequate amounts of iron from food even if they're not dieting.

    Yep, my blood pressure runs quite low and its normal for me and I've got no symptoms (usually low 90s/mid 80s systolic). You wouldn't be be able to really run around with "dangerously low" blood pressure it's not like high blood pressure. If you have truly dangerously low blood pressure your organs including your brain are not perfused, you also stop perfusing your kidneys sufficiently and go into kidney failure. You basically develop shock and die without treatment.
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