The Top Foods to Avoid if You Have High Blood Pressure

4. Peanut Butter

A 2014 study indicated that, in terms of raising blood pressure, sugar may be worse than even salt. Eating too much sugar limits the body’s nitric oxide production, which is important for the expansion of blood vessels. Without nitric oxide, the blood vessels constrict, contributing to higher blood pressure. Though many people believe peanut butter is healthy, it contains natural sugars, and companies will often add more sugar to sweeten the product. A mere two tablespoons of peanut butter may account for nearly 15% of the daily amount of sugar for men and 20% for women.