Treatments for pre-eclampsia in the past have also included dietary changes and supplements. The most common, (but now outdated) advice was restricting salt. This is now considered unhelpful, and women may salt their food to taste.
Another more recent treatment has been calcium supplements. In indigenous cultures with high calcium intakes, the incidence of pre-eclampsia was noted to be very rare. This observation prompted an interest in giving women calcium supplements to prevent pre-eclampsia in western societies. The benefits of calcium supplements have been positive, but are inconclusive at present.
From a 'natural therapies' approach, a good diet is beneficial for overall health. If your blood pressure is noted to be higher than normal, you may wish to pay special attention to the following:
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Eating plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables (cucumbers are recommended). |
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Having a diet high in protein. Protein rich foods include meat, fish, chicken, eggs, nuts, dairy products, sesame, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, pulses, breads, cereals, grains, flour, pasta, rice, barley, rye, rolled oats, millet, corn, Soya bean products tofu, tempeh, and fortified soymilk. Some naturopaths believe red meat contributes to hypertension and should be a limited source of protein. |
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Making sure you have plenty of calories from complex carbohydrate sources. These include breads, cereals, pasta, rice, and potatoes. |
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Avoiding stimulants such as caffeine rich products. These can include coffee, cola and chocolate and giving up smoking. Drinking 6 - 8 glasses of water a day. |
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Eating foods rich in potassium. They can be found in most fruit and vegetables, especially tomatoes, oranges, carrots, potatoes, bananas, also liquorice, cereals, molasses, mint, dried yeast. |
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Eating foods rich in magnesium, including nuts, soybeans, whole grain breads and cereals, wheat germ, bran, bananas, dark green leafy vegetables such as spinach and seaweed. |
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Eating foods rich in Calcium, such as dairy products. You may wish to read more in calcium in foods. |