Should I see a nutritionist?

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kissenkate15
kissenkate15 Posts: 28
in Food and Nutrition
I am 23 years old and I was just told that even though I eat a mostly healthy diet and I work out every day I still have high blood pressure. It runs in both sides of my family. Both my parents have it. I don't really know what to change in my diet to lessen my salt intake with out reducing calories. I already have trouble reaching the 1200 calories I am supposed to eat a day. I always seem to go over my daily limits for sodium and sugar even though I try not to. Has anyone seen a nutritionist? Do they really help? Anyone have any idea how much it would cost to see one? Any suggestions or ideas will help. Thank you!

I'd like to add to anyone who does not read all the posts attached to this question that some days I have to buy lunch and on those days I can't control my sodium intake as well. Example yesterday I had to buy lunch and the only option was Blimpie's subs. It was that or don't eat. So I mean normally I make my own food at home. I rarely ever eat out. I also don't add salt to anything seeing as I don't even have any in my apt. I eat mostly fruits, veggies and chicken and fish.
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Replies

  • Zichu
    Zichu Posts: 542 Member
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    Can you open your diary to see what you are eating, this way we can find out what foods could be causing this and could give you tips on what to eat to lower sodium and sugar.

    I will also add that processed food tend to be high in sodium. Confectioneries will also contain a lot of sugar, along with fruit, but fruit contains a lot of healthy vitamins and minerals, so don't eliminate fruit.
  • therealangd
    therealangd Posts: 1,861 Member
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    If you are eating too much sodium it's because you are eating too much processed food. Limit your intake to fruits, vegetables and lean proteins.

    Don't worry about the sugar from fruit unless you have insulin issues.
  • jolarocknrolla
    jolarocknrolla Posts: 236 Member
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    seeing a nutritionist will help.

    My husband had high bloodpressure - in order to avoid the sodium in the average american diet we had to stop buying prepared foods and make pretty much everything from scratch using whole foods and adding no salt (of course) and when we do buy anything prepared we read the labels to find the low-sodium alternative. If you eat whole foods you won't have issues going over your sodium.
  • WarriorReady
    WarriorReady Posts: 571 Member
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    I;ve been to a nutritionist - she was a great help. it cost me around $100 but that is here in Michigan (don't know where you live). Best of luck! Hope you get that bp under control soon! :smile:
  • OTchic
    OTchic Posts: 205 Member
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    it would be good to see your diary and see what your are eating to make your sodium and sugar intakes so high! I didn't see a nutrionist as I got advice and looked into what I was eating and stopped eating it or reduced my intake a bit. If you have health insurance it should just be your copay i pay $10 for each appt even if its a specialist.
  • Sharbear6936
    Sharbear6936 Posts: 7
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    I also have high blood pressure and my doctor said it isn't always indicative of poor health or diet. He has a 300lb patient with the blood pressure of a teenager, he also has a patient who is a marathon runner and in great health and he is on high blood pressure medication.
  • lwagnitz
    lwagnitz Posts: 1,321 Member
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    Although I haven't been to a nutritionist for that same reason, I think that it helped a lot. Very informative and this way you can find out straight the answer instead of reading about myths and rumors, etc. I don't know how much it costs I was covered under insurance :/. I can't see your diary, but like another poster said, you're probably eating too much processed foods. Try eating fresh foods. Remember: food that can go bad is good for you, food that can't go bad, isn't. I would recommend seeing a nutritionist regardless, though.
  • debbiestine
    debbiestine Posts: 265 Member
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    Why don't you just open your diary and let people make suggestions? It would be cheaper than seeing a nutritionalist.
    Of course if you know your sodium and sugar is too high why don't you just cut it back for several weeks and then have it checked again. Seems kind of simple...
  • kissenkate15
    kissenkate15 Posts: 28
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    I will open my food diary up for y'all.

    I will say though I do have days where I have to buy lunch or I am out to eat with friends and those days are usually rare so please take that into consideration. I normally try to stick to veggies that I either steam myself or buy frozen and then steam. I try to eat fruits as much as I can. I also usually only eat chicken or fish.
  • crazyellybean
    crazyellybean Posts: 999 Member
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    Biggest waste of money! .. Just do a little research on the web and save your money..

    Also like someone else pointed out, if your sodium is too high, it's because you are eating too much processed foods.

    As for your sugar, if your sugar is coming from Fruits or Veggies don't worry about going over too much.
  • DataBased
    DataBased Posts: 513 Member
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    Hey Kate! You live in the same town as my daughter!

    You will do very well to buy your foods raw and cook them yourself. Don't buy frozen meals, prepared meals, or fast food. There is a whole recipe forum here that gives some marvelous, fast, easy recipes to follow to help you eat healthy without taking in all that sodium.

    Seeing a nutritionist is NEVER a bad thing - unless the nutritionist is a fake or has something to sell.

    Have fun! :flowerforyou:
  • wickedcricket
    wickedcricket Posts: 1,246 Member
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    'cleaner' eating, fresh foods - no processed. the less processed foods you eat, the less salt. don't add salt while cooking- and don't use salt to season, use mrs dash & other seasonings.
    basically, stay out of the center aisles of the grocery
    but sure, see a nuttionist if you can afford it
  • karenjoy
    karenjoy Posts: 1,840 Member
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    don't waste your money on a nutritionist,


    There is a thing about nutritionists. Its like claiming to be a 'scientician'. A person who is a professional expert in human diet is called a dietician, and it is illegal to call yourself one unless you have a recognised qualification and actually know what you are doing. However 'nutritionist' doesnt mean anything, so anyone can say they are one. If ever you meet a nutritionist, ask why they arent a dietician.

    I am going to call myself a nutritionist and you can send me money to tell you to eat more fibre, more veg and drink more water, cut down on bad fats, sat and sugar...

    that will be a large amount of money please.....
  • kissenkate15
    kissenkate15 Posts: 28
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    Example yesterday's lunch was really high but that was because I had to buy lunch. I couldn't make my own.
  • MinnieInMaine
    MinnieInMaine Posts: 6,400 Member
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    Why not? No matter the cost, think of it as an investment in your health and future. Also, find out what you should be doing for activity as exercise can be beneficial too. As others have already said, you need to change up your eating habits in irder to avoid the sodium and you need to start spending more time shopping to find the lowest sodium option for those foods that are hard to avoid having processed like bread. There is hope...my gym buddy has recently been approved to lower her bp med dose due to eating better and being consistently active! Good luck to you!
  • kissenkate15
    kissenkate15 Posts: 28
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    To the person who said don't add salt to anything. I don't do that. I don't even have salt in my apt. Just Mrs. Dash and it the salt free kind. I never add salt to anything even when I am out to eat.
  • AntWrig
    AntWrig Posts: 2,273 Member
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    I am 23 years old and I was just told that even though I eat a mostly healthy diet and I work out every day I still have high blood pressure. It runs in both sides of my family. Both my parents have it. I don't really know what to change in my diet to lessen my salt intake with out reducing calories. I already have trouble reaching the 1200 calories I am supposed to eat a day. I always seem to go over my daily limits for sodium and sugar even though I try not to. Has anyone seen a nutritionist? Do they really help? Anyone have any idea how much it would cost to see one? Any suggestions or ideas will help. Thank you!
    I would do some research. Most nutritionist are stuck in the dark ages in regards to nutrition. One big red flag is if they say you must eat six meals a day...

    Good luck!
  • mem50
    mem50 Posts: 1,384 Member
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    Would you be willing to open your diary? As a group we might be able to help.

    I saw a nutritionist/dietician once.....did not help much as I was already doing all she was nattering on about. You may have better luck. My insurance paid 80% of the fee since it was recommended by the Doctor.

    High blood pressure runs in my family also. Since I have lost the weight I have not had to take the medication at all. I run a nice 130/78 most of the time.

    With the sodium reduction also do your best to control fat intake.
  • kissenkate15
    kissenkate15 Posts: 28
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    Would you be willing to open your diary? As a group we might be able to help.

    I saw a nutritionist/dietician once.....did not help much as I was already doing all she was nattering on about. You may have better luck. My insurance paid 80% of the fee since it was recommended by the Doctor.

    High blood pressure runs in my family also. Since I have lost the weight I have not had to take the medication at all. I run a nice 130/78 most of the time.

    With the sodium reduction also do your best to control fat intake.

    It should be open for y'all to view now. :D
  • SARgirl
    SARgirl Posts: 572 Member
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    My guess is that it's genetic. I have the same issue. I was diagnosed with high blood pressure at 25 and have been on medication since. I lost 30 pounds and it was actually higher and I needed a dosage increase.

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