Globally, high blood pressure, hypertension, is the leading risk factor for death from heart disease. Meals eaten away from home are often higher in calories, saturated fat and salt. These types of meals are thought to contribute to high blood pressure.
In a study looking at Asian university students over 27% of these young adults already had prehypertension. Prehypertensive blood pressure measurements are 120 to 139 for the systolic (upper) number and 80 to 89 for the diastolic (lower) number reading. Blood pressures in this range are a warning sign that you are at risk for high blood pressure in the future.
Those university students with prehypertension ate more than 12 meals away from home each week. Men (49%) were more likely than women (9%) to suffer from prehypertension. Those with prehypertension or hypertension were also heavier, did less physical activity and were smokers. Eating just one additional meal out each week, raised the odds for prehypertension by 6%.
