Pork and high blood pressure

I was under the impression that pork tenderloin is healthier for you than other pork because of it low in fat & sodium, but a co-worker told me today that even tho it is low in fat & sodium it is still pork meat and might not be a good idea to eat pork tenderloin with high blood pressure. My husband & I both are on blood pressure medicine, and he had a heart attack 8 months ago. What are your opinions on pork tenderloin and other pork meat?

Replies

  • ccrdragon
    ccrdragon Posts: 3,374 Member
    As long as you stay away from processed pork like bacon and sausage, you should be fine. Tenderloin is naturally less fatty and contains low amounts of naturally occurring sodium.
  • rjmwx81
    rjmwx81 Posts: 259 Member
    Pork is generally quite lean, so in terms of fat and calories and their impact on blood pressure, it's not a bad choice. It doesn't have any more sodium than, say, an equivalent amount of chicken. It's the processed pork that gets people into trouble: bacon, sausage, ham are all generally loaded with salt.
  • yukfoo
    yukfoo Posts: 871 Member
    edited October 2020
    If it's a real concern just run it past your primary heath care provider before making significant changes to to diet and/or exercise. They may want to monitor more closely for any changes to your existing health issues.
  • nooshi713
    nooshi713 Posts: 4,877 Member
    I work in the ER and consult with cardiologists often and they all say no to pork and red meat if someone has cardiovascular disease and hypertension.
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,427 MFP Moderator
    You can't just isolate one specific food because that alone isn't going to have an impact. The key should be weight loss, exercise, consuming adequate fiber, unprocessed oils (olive and avocado)and generally whole foods. You can have red meats, poultry, eggs, and etc... Minimize processed meats and processed oils.
  • wilson10102018
    wilson10102018 Posts: 1,306 Member
    There is nothing wrong with pork. Doctors assume everyone except them are idiots and that they can't tell the difference between an unprocessed pork tenderloin and a rasher of bacon. Go with the science not the rumor.