Blood pressure tip: Don't pass the bread

Substituting lean animal protein or soy protein for high-carbohydrate foods -- such as pasta and white bread -- may reduce blood pressure.

Chronic consumption of high-carbohydrate foods increases insulin levels and may desensitize insulin receptors, which are linked to elevated blood pressure.

Australian researchers found that eliminating high-carb (starchy) foods in favor of protein-rich foods reduced blood pressure by about 4 points in hypertensive men.

Scientists from the Children’s Hospital Oakland Research Institute found that people on reduced carbohydrate diets (less white rice, white bread, pasta, etc.) experienced decreases in blood cholesterol, even when they didn’t lose weight.

The researchers speculated that high-carbohydrate diets increase fat accumulation in the liver, which increases blood cholesterol. People can get many of the beneficial effects shown in the study by avoiding sugary foods, white rice, pasta and white bread, all of which are high in calories and low in nutrients.

It must be noted that "healthy carbohydrates" such as fruits and vegetables should be eaten every day in abundance.