South Beach Blues

[muckefuck]

Following monshu's recent checkup (wow, I didn't know human blood pressure readings went up that high!), we have become the latest bears to adopt the South Beach diet--or we will, starting next week; I think this is going to be Binge Week until we get rid of all the nasty things lurking in his larder. He was telling me that I don't have to eat as many twigs and nettles as he does, but frankly I need the external pressure to change my diet.

I think the biggest bummer will be cutting down on the East Asian food, with its high sodium and hidden sugars. Any suggestions for tasty, heart-healthy substitutes will be much appreciated!

Comments

[pleinweb.livejournal.com]

The good thing about Hypertension is that its a stress damage over time kinda thing, not a "your heart explodes next week thing" it is entirely treatable, and caught and treated is not going to kill you.

The bad thing is that it's mood-altered. Getting angry, stressed, or anxious increases it, so consciously backing away from these emotions becomes a survival skill. I drive less, for instance, since my genetics kicked in and launched my diastolic pressure into the low 100s, because driving in traffic stresses me the fuck out.

Sugar=carbs, so your approach is a smart one, I think. Have the labs indicated that either sodium or cholesterol are the problem?

[muckefuck.livejournal.com]

No cholesterol test yet, but I'm assuming yes for sodium since the doc gave him handouts on low-sodium dining. (That's one reason why Asian is such a no-no.)

[pleinweb.livejournal.com]

Not to get your hopes up, but until the labs are back they can't tell that for certain. Though reducing sodium is always a smart thing to do with hypertension... it may, as is the case with me, have nothing to do with it. It just usually is, so the doctor was being pre-emptive.