Posts

Attention Drivers: High Blood Pressure- foods to avoid for better health

In most cases, the causes underlying high blood pressure remain unknown, but we know that it affects roughly 50% of the American population’s health, and amongst those are truck drivers. High blood pressure is a concerning truck driver health issue, and this blog is specially curated to help you combat the risks of high blood pressure in your truck driver’s health.

There is a relation between the nutrition you intake and your blood pressure. Weight gain can result in high blood pressure, whereas weight loss can reduce blood pressure. Similarly, some foods increase blood pressure, and some decrease blood pressure. Without further ado, let’s look into foods to avoid for better health!

Four types of food to avoid for better health with high blood pressure

Sodium

Sodium is a mineral that occurs naturally in most foods. Salt is the primary source of sodium intake in our bodies. While sodium has its benefits, it is harmful as it quickly raises blood pressure. When you have plenty of sodium in your bloodstream, your body starts holding in water to neutralize the ratio, and this causes stress on your heart and blood vessels, thus increasing your blood pressure. 

To put it simply, avoid food with high salt concentrations if you want the best truck driver health. Check-in with your practitioner for sodium substitutes, always read nutrition and content tables, and buy products that are “sodium-free, “low sodium,” or “unsalted.” Similarly, purchase sodium-free herbs and seasoning mixes.

Here are some foods rich in sodium: condiments, snack foods (pretzels, popcorn, peanuts, chips), pickled or marinated food in brine. Ensure to stay far away from them!

Canned, frozen, and processed food

These foods are top offenders when it comes to high blood pressure. While manufacturing this type of food, an array of preservatives and sodium products are added, which can immediately cause truck driver health issues. So in case, you find yourself craving soup, try to make it yourself instead of opting for the canned ones. Or look for bone broth travel packets, add a few veggies to the base, or pour it into a cup and drink it like a hot beverage. So delicious and so healthy for you. 

Some canned, processed, and frozen food items include meat, sausage, ham, canned soups, dried soup mixes, and boxed mixes. Always essential to read the sodium content and the ingredients. Canned items often pack in sodium, which can leave you with the blood pressure to prove it. 

One of my favorite soup travel mixes is the dehydrated soup. Great for a truck driver or traveler, add hot water at your next stop, and you have instant soup and an instant healthy meal!

Alcohol

Having small amounts of alcohol can reduce blood pressure, but if that volume is turned up a few dials, you will cause a spike in your blood pressure. Habitual drinking can cause worse problems and take you to a doctor’s office if not cared for immediately. Drinking can also be a sign of deeper issues often linked to emotional challenges. Before you reach for a drink, call a friend or go out for a walk and then notice how you feel. 

Fast food

If you’ve been paying attention to health news, you know fast food is a terrible idea. Not only is it generally discouraged from consuming fast food other than the occasional here and there, but it will also be harmful to any truck driver’s health if they deal with high blood pressure. 

Fast food causes high cholesterol, which also increases your blood pressure, so beware, the temptation is not worth the price you will pay.

Looking for healthy alternatives and not sure where to start, check out https://www.truckersnews.com/gear/product/15065710/roadpro-here-are-8-travelfriendly-snacks-to-keep-you-fueled-as-you-drive

Don’t forget:

YOu can do this! The net components of these cause rather harmful effects on your overall health, and if you want to remove high blood pressure from your list of truck driver health issues, then follow the guidelines we have provided in this blog and avoid these foods for better health. On that note, safe eating, and good truck driver health!

Remember it’s about the small simple changes that lead to the big results in your life, so that you can feel good again!

Now hop on over to our amazing Mother Trucker Yoga LIFESTYLE JUMPSTART Membership Platform & APP where you can dive into more great content just like this to better your health starting today!

Try us our for a FREE 30 day with the code: MTY30

Mother Trucker Yoga LIFESTYLE JUMPSTART App and platform image

/0 Comments/by

Tackle The Common Health Issues Truckers Experience Head-On

If you’re a trucker and on the road a lot of your life, there are numerous health issues you might experience. Here are some of the common health problems and the best solutions. 

 

Obesity 

 

Truckers obviously spend a lot of their working life sitting in a car seat. So, it should be no surprise that obesity levels are high among these workers. 7 out of 10 truckers are obese in the USA according to some studies so this is definitely a common issue. You need to make sure that exercise is part of your regular routine. There are some easy exercise ideas to explore so you don’t need to hit the gym. About 15 minutes of exercise each day will make a massive difference here.

Lung Cancer 

 

A tremendous 60% of truckers in the USA smoke according to the latest research. It’s not clear why this is although it could be a way for individuals to cope with the stress of this job. It might also be something to do with socio-economic factors. Regardless, it might be time to start thinking seriously about quitting. These days, it’s easier to quit smoking than before. You should consider taking up vaping. It provides the same physical process as smoking without the harmful chemicals so it’s a good substitute. You can also use it to gradually reduce your nicotine intake until you hit zero rather than going cold turkey. 

Lung Cancer - Mother Trucker Yoga Blog

Pexels CCO License

 

Sleep Apnea

 

You probably won’t be aware if you suffer from sleep apnea but your partner or anyone who you sleep with will have noticed it. It caused you to stop breaking temporarily and repeatedly through the night for several seconds at a time. This can be quite alarming for anyone sleeping next to you and the stress on your body will leave you exhausted the next morning. If you suffer from this condition, many countries won’t even allow you to drive. Surgery can fix this issue however you can also reduce it by changing your lifestyle. Drinking alcohol, smoking and obesity all increase the chances of experiencing this condition. 

 

Problems With Sleep Routines 

 

As you have probably learned, it’s difficult to keep a traditional sleep routine as a trucker. The hours that you work can be crazy. You might wake up at 4 in the morning to arrive home around 2 when you will be exhausted and almost immediately fall asleep, waking up at 9. It’s a weird pattern for your body to be in and you’re right in thinking this can play havoc with your health. If you’re working long hauls you need to make sure that you’re using stop-off points where you can get a proper rest with a bed. You should also speak to your employer about getting your schedule in advance. That way, you can prepare a plan and ensure that you are gaining the rest you need while fitting in personal time for you to enjoy. Remember, downtime is still going to be important when you are a trucker. 

Sleep Mother Trucker Yoga Blog

Pexels CCO License

Depression And Isolation 

 

There are certain professions and jobs where mental health issues are more common than others. For instance, you might be aware that doctors are more likely to experience depression than virtually any other professional worker. However, truckers also face issues here and the reason for this is quite simply the level of isolation. Some truckers took the job on because they love the peace and serenity of being on the road. Many are trying to escape the challenges of life at home but others simply aren’t prepared for the sheer level of isolation that they experience. It’s important to stay in touch with people, even on long haul trips. Tech is your friend here and while you can’t keep in touch on the road, you can video call friends, families, and loved ones when you’re stopped. Or, if you’re single, you can check out some dating apps to form new connections. 

 

Issues With Nutrition 

Fast Food Mother Trucker Yoga Blog

Pexels CCO License

 

If you have spent a lot of years on the road, you’re probably already familiar with the issue of eating healthily. When you’re trucking, you have to grab food where you can find it and this is usually going to be a fast-food joint on the highway. The problem is that these places and meals will not provide the nutrition you need to keep your body healthy. There are of course ways to deal with this problem. For instance, you can pack lunches to take with you. Don’t forget that if you’re not getting the right level of nutrition, levels of immunity will be significantly reduced. This is going to make it far more likely that you do develop serious diseases. 

Don’t let common health issues those in the trucking industry face get you down. One small change at a time is the best way to see results in your overall health and wellness.

 

STIFF Mother Trucker Pain Relief Cream Wake Up Feeling Great

 

Read about some strategies to help you as a driver make fitness a reality:
https://mothertruckeryoga.com/2019/04/29/trucker-fitness-expectations-vs-reality/

/0 Comments/by