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Dr. Suhail M. Marfani — Health Matters
Conditions we treat

Hypertension

High blood pressure — causes, monitoring, treatment to target and a heart-healthy diet plan.

Hypertension Food Guide — search rice, roti, dal and 200 more foods, rated Green / Amber / Red for salt (sodium).

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Filipino Foods · Hypertension

Kanin, pandesal, adobo, sinigang and Filipino desserts.

Educational guidance only — not a personal diet prescription. Content is medically reviewed and based on recognised clinical guidelines — see references. If you have feedback or a suggestion to improve this website, .

Fruits — illustrative photo
Green · Choose more often

Avocado

abukado, butter fruit

Fits the DASH eating pattern — rich in potassium, fibre or calcium. Cook with little salt.

Portion: ¼ fruit (about 50 g)

Banana — food photograph
Green · Choose more often

Banana

kela, mauz, saging

Fits the DASH eating pattern — rich in potassium, fibre or calcium. Cook with little salt.

Portion: 1 small (about 100 g)

Karela — food photograph
Green · Choose more often

Bitter gourd (karela)

ampalaya, bitter melon, pavakkai

Fits the DASH eating pattern — rich in potassium, fibre or calcium. Cook with little salt.

Portion: 1 cup cooked (about 125 g)

Fruits — illustrative photo
Green · Choose more often

Boiled saba banana

nilagang saging

Fits the DASH eating pattern — rich in potassium, fibre or calcium. Cook with little salt.

Portion: 1 piece (about 80 g)

Vegetables — illustrative photo
Green · Choose more often

Boiled sweet potato (kamote)

camote, shakarkandi

Fits the DASH eating pattern — rich in potassium, fibre or calcium. Cook with little salt.

Portion: 1 medium (about 130 g)

Vegetables — illustrative photo
Green · Choose more often

Bottle gourd (lauki)

doodhi, ghiya, upo

Fits the DASH eating pattern — rich in potassium, fibre or calcium. Cook with little salt.

Portion: 1 cup cooked (about 150 g)

Fruits — illustrative photo
Green · Choose more often

Chikoo (sapodilla)

chico, sapota

Fits the DASH eating pattern — rich in potassium, fibre or calcium. Cook with little salt.

Portion: 1 small (about 100 g)

Cucumber Salad — food photograph
Green · Choose more often

Cucumber salad

kheera, khiyar, pipino

Fits the DASH eating pattern — rich in potassium, fibre or calcium. Cook with little salt.

Portion: 1 cup (about 120 g)

Fruits — illustrative photo
Green · Choose more often

Fresh coconut meat (buko)

coconut flesh, thengai

Fits the DASH eating pattern — rich in potassium, fibre or calcium. Cook with little salt.

Portion: 2 tablespoons (about 40 g)

Vegetables — illustrative photo
Green · Choose more often

Ginisang ampalaya

ampalaya with egg

Fits the DASH eating pattern — rich in potassium, fibre or calcium. Cook with little salt.

Portion: 1 cup (about 150 g)

Protein Foods — illustrative photo
Green · Choose more often

Grilled bangus (milkfish)

inihaw na bangus

Fits the DASH eating pattern — rich in potassium, fibre or calcium. Cook with little salt.

Portion: 1 serving (about 120 g)

Guava — food photograph
Green · Choose more often

Guava

amrood, bayabas, peru

Fits the DASH eating pattern — rich in potassium, fibre or calcium. Cook with little salt.

Portion: 1 medium (about 100 g)

Fruits — illustrative photo
Green · Choose more often

Jackfruit

chakka, kathal, langka

Fits the DASH eating pattern — rich in potassium, fibre or calcium. Cook with little salt.

Portion: ½ cup (about 80 g)

Vegetables — illustrative photo
Green · Choose more often

Laing

taro leaves in coconut

Fits the DASH eating pattern — rich in potassium, fibre or calcium. Cook with little salt.

Portion: 1 cup (about 150 g)

Low Fat Milk — food photograph
Green · Choose more often

Low-fat milk

gatas, skimmed milk, toned milk

Fits the DASH eating pattern — rich in potassium, fibre or calcium. Cook with little salt.

Portion: 1 cup (250 ml) (about 250 g)

Vegetables — illustrative photo
Green · Choose more often

Lumpiang sariwa

fresh spring roll

Fits the DASH eating pattern — rich in potassium, fibre or calcium. Cook with little salt.

Portion: 1 roll (about 150 g)

Mango — food photograph
Green · Choose more often

Mango

aam, manga, mangga

Fits the DASH eating pattern — rich in potassium, fibre or calcium. Cook with little salt.

Portion: ½ cup cubes (about 80 g)

Pulses & Legumes — illustrative photo
Green · Choose more often

Moong sprouts

bean sprouts, togue

Fits the DASH eating pattern — rich in potassium, fibre or calcium. Cook with little salt.

Portion: 1 cup (about 100 g)

Fruits — illustrative photo
Green · Choose more often

Papaya

papaya, papita

Fits the DASH eating pattern — rich in potassium, fibre or calcium. Cook with little salt.

Portion: 1 cup cubes (about 145 g)

Snacks & Desserts — illustrative photo
Green · Choose more often

Peanuts

ful sudani, mani, moongphali

Fits the DASH eating pattern — rich in potassium, fibre or calcium. Cook with little salt.

Portion: small handful (about 30 g)

Vegetables — illustrative photo
Green · Choose more often

Pinakbet

pakbet

Fits the DASH eating pattern — rich in potassium, fibre or calcium. Cook with little salt.

Portion: 1 cup (about 150 g)

Vegetables — illustrative photo
Green · Choose more often

Sweet corn

bhutta, mais

Fits the DASH eating pattern — rich in potassium, fibre or calcium. Cook with little salt.

Portion: ½ cup (about 80 g)

Protein Foods — illustrative photo
Green · Choose more often

Tofu

soybean curd, tokwa

Fits the DASH eating pattern — rich in potassium, fibre or calcium. Cook with little salt.

Portion: 100 g (about 100 g)

Vegetables — illustrative photo
Green · Choose more often

Tomato

kamatis, tamatar, tamatim

Fits the DASH eating pattern — rich in potassium, fibre or calcium. Cook with little salt.

Portion: 1 medium (about 123 g)

Fruits — illustrative photo
Green · Choose more often

Watermelon

batikh, pakwan, tarbooz

Fits the DASH eating pattern — rich in potassium, fibre or calcium. Cook with little salt.

Portion: 1 cup cubes (about 150 g)

Rice & Rice Dishes — illustrative photo
Amber · Watch your portion

Arroz caldo

congee, lugaw with chicken

Reasonable choice — prepare with little salt and avoid salty pickles or sauces alongside.

Portion: 1 bowl (about 300 g)

Snacks & Desserts — illustrative photo
Amber · Watch your portion

Bibingka

rice cake

Low in salt but high in sugar — limit to support healthy weight and blood pressure.

Portion: 1 piece (about 100 g)

Drinks & Beverages — illustrative photo
Amber · Watch your portion

Black coffee

kahwa (black), kape

Reasonable choice — prepare with little salt and avoid salty pickles or sauces alongside.

Portion: 1 cup (about 240 g)

Brown Rice — food photograph
Amber · Watch your portion

Brown rice

red rice, unpolished rice

Reasonable choice — prepare with little salt and avoid salty pickles or sauces alongside.

Portion: ½ cup cooked (about 100 g)

Drinks & Beverages — illustrative photo
Amber · Watch your portion

Calamansi water (no sugar)

calamansi juice

Reasonable choice — prepare with little salt and avoid salty pickles or sauces alongside.

Portion: 1 glass (about 250 g)

Grains & Cereals — illustrative photo
Amber · Watch your portion

Champorado

chocolate rice porridge

Low in salt but high in sugar — limit to support healthy weight and blood pressure.

Portion: 1 bowl (about 250 g)

Milk & Dairy — illustrative photo
Amber · Watch your portion

Cheddar cheese

cheese, keso

Moderate salt — choose a small portion and don't add extra salt.

Portion: 1 slice / 30 g (about 30 g)

Chicken Adobo — food photograph
Amber · Watch your portion

Chicken adobo

adobong manok

Moderate salt — choose a small portion and don't add extra salt.

Portion: 1 serving (about 150 g)

Drinks & Beverages — illustrative photo
Amber · Watch your portion

Coconut water

buko juice, nariyal pani

Low in salt but high in sugar — limit to support healthy weight and blood pressure.

Portion: 1 glass (250 ml) (about 240 g)

Drinks & Beverages — illustrative photo
Amber · Watch your portion

Cola / soft drink

coke, pepsi, soda

Low in salt but high in sugar — limit to support healthy weight and blood pressure.

Portion: 1 can (330 ml) (about 330 g)

Egg Boiled — food photograph
Amber · Watch your portion

Egg (boiled)

anda, bayd, itlog

Reasonable choice — prepare with little salt and avoid salty pickles or sauces alongside.

Portion: 1 large egg (about 50 g)

Breads & Chapati — illustrative photo
Amber · Watch your portion

Ensaymada

ensaimada

Low in salt but high in sugar — limit to support healthy weight and blood pressure.

Portion: 1 piece (about 80 g)

Rice & Rice Dishes — illustrative photo
Amber · Watch your portion

Garlic fried rice (sinangag)

garlic rice

Moderate salt — choose a small portion and don't add extra salt.

Portion: 1 cup (about 160 g)

Protein Foods — illustrative photo
Amber · Watch your portion

Grilled chicken breast

chicken breast

Reasonable choice — prepare with little salt and avoid salty pickles or sauces alongside.

Portion: palm-size piece (about 100 g)

Snacks & Desserts — illustrative photo
Amber · Watch your portion

Halo-halo

halu-halo

Low in salt but high in sugar — limit to support healthy weight and blood pressure.

Portion: 1 glass (about 300 g)

Snacks & Desserts — illustrative photo
Amber · Watch your portion

Honey

asal, pulot, shahad

Reasonable choice — prepare with little salt and avoid salty pickles or sauces alongside.

Portion: 1 tablespoon (about 21 g)

Snacks & Desserts — illustrative photo
Amber · Watch your portion

Ice cream

kulfi (similar), sorbetes

Low in salt but high in sugar — limit to support healthy weight and blood pressure.

Portion: ½ cup (about 66 g)

Snacks & Desserts — illustrative photo
Amber · Watch your portion

Leche flan

flan

Low in salt but high in sugar — limit to support healthy weight and blood pressure.

Portion: 1 thin slice (about 80 g)

Snacks & Desserts — illustrative photo
Amber · Watch your portion

Milk chocolate

chocolate bar

Low in salt but high in sugar — limit to support healthy weight and blood pressure.

Portion: 1 small bar (about 40 g)

Grains & Cereals — illustrative photo
Amber · Watch your portion

Pancit bihon

bihon guisado

Reasonable choice — prepare with little salt and avoid salty pickles or sauces alongside.

Portion: 1 cup (about 150 g)

Breads & Chapati — illustrative photo
Amber · Watch your portion

Pandesal

pan de sal

Moderate salt — choose a small portion and don't add extra salt.

Portion: 1 small roll (about 35 g)

Protein Foods — illustrative photo
Amber · Watch your portion

Sinigang na isda

sinigang

Moderate salt — choose a small portion and don't add extra salt.

Portion: 1 bowl (about 300 g)

Snacks & Desserts — illustrative photo
Amber · Watch your portion

Table sugar

asukal, cheeni, sukkar

Reasonable choice — prepare with little salt and avoid salty pickles or sauces alongside.

Portion: 1 teaspoon (about 4 g)

Snacks & Desserts — illustrative photo
Amber · Watch your portion

Taho

silken tofu with syrup

Low in salt but high in sugar — limit to support healthy weight and blood pressure.

Portion: 1 cup (about 250 g)

Protein Foods — illustrative photo
Amber · Watch your portion

Tinola

chicken tinola

Reasonable choice — prepare with little salt and avoid salty pickles or sauces alongside.

Portion: 1 bowl (about 300 g)

Snacks & Desserts — illustrative photo
Amber · Watch your portion

Turon

banana lumpia

Low in salt but high in sugar — limit to support healthy weight and blood pressure.

Portion: 1 piece (about 80 g)

Water — food photograph
Amber · Watch your portion

Water

maa, pani, tubig

Reasonable choice — prepare with little salt and avoid salty pickles or sauces alongside.

Portion: 6–8 glasses a day (about 250 g)

Breads & Chapati — illustrative photo
Amber · Watch your portion

White bread

sandwich bread, tasty bread

Moderate salt — choose a small portion and don't add extra salt.

Portion: 1 slice (about 28 g)

White Rice — food photograph
Amber · Watch your portion

White rice (boiled)

basmati, bhaat, chawal, kanin, ruz

Reasonable choice — prepare with little salt and avoid salty pickles or sauces alongside.

Portion: ½ cup cooked (1 fist) (about 100 g)

Protein Foods — illustrative photo
Red · Limit / avoid routinely

Beef burger

hamburger

Very salty or processed — a major source of hidden sodium. Keep for rare occasions.

Portion: 1 burger (about 220 g)

Protein Foods — illustrative photo
Red · Limit / avoid routinely

Longganisa

longanisa

Very salty or processed — a major source of hidden sodium. Keep for rare occasions.

Portion: 2 pieces (about 80 g)

Snacks & Desserts — illustrative photo
Red · Limit / avoid routinely

Lumpiang shanghai

fried spring rolls

Very salty or processed — a major source of hidden sodium. Keep for rare occasions.

Portion: 4 pieces (about 100 g)

Grains & Cereals — illustrative photo
Red · Limit / avoid routinely

Pancit canton

pansit

Very salty or processed — a major source of hidden sodium. Keep for rare occasions.

Portion: 1 cup (about 150 g)

Snacks & Desserts — illustrative photo
Red · Limit / avoid routinely

Pizza

pizza

Very salty or processed — a major source of hidden sodium. Keep for rare occasions.

Portion: 2 slices (about 200 g)

Protein Foods — illustrative photo
Red · Limit / avoid routinely

Pork adobo

adobong baboy

Very salty or processed — a major source of hidden sodium. Keep for rare occasions.

Portion: 1 serving (about 150 g)

Protein Foods — illustrative photo
Red · Limit / avoid routinely

Tocino

chicken tocino, pork tocino

Very salty or processed — a major source of hidden sodium. Keep for rare occasions.

Portion: 2–3 slices (about 100 g)

Medical disclaimer: All content on this website is for general educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, and reading it does not establish a doctor–patient relationship. Always consult a qualified clinician about your own health. Content is medically reviewed and based on recognised clinical guidelines — see references. If you have feedback or a suggestion to improve this website, .

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