Having high blood pressure doesnt mean cheese is off the menu.

Recipe photo: Rachel Marek.

A diagnosis of high blood pressure signals that you gotta be more mindful about what you eat.

Toast topped with ricotta cheese, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, and lemon zest, served on a plate.

Photo:Recipe photo: Rachel Marek. EatingWell design.

Youll be advised tocut down on sodiumand add calcium, for a start.

One way to do both?

However, the cheeses you choose for blood pressure management matter.

an image of the Strawberry Caprese Salad

Here are the ones dietitians recommend.

These holes are created by the formation of carbon dioxide bubbles during the fermentation process.

Swiss has the lowest sodium, at 54 milligrams per ounce, says Lauren Trahan, M.S., RDN.

a recipe photo of the Lemon-Berry Ricotta Toast

Shes a registered dietitian in Virginia.

Its just not as heavily processed, so its a naturally lower-sodium cheese.

And an ounce of Swiss cheese typically has 53 mg sodium, plus 252 mg of calcium.

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(Note that, for all cheeses, nutrient amounts may vary slightly among brands.)

As a reference, the recommended intake of calcium is 1,300 mg daily.

Thats OK, too, especially if you go for low-fat options or ones that use part-skim milk.

Trahan recommends using it to top a homemade pizza, along with lots of fresh vegetables.

Ricotta Cheese

Polgreen calls ricotta one of her go-tos, and Trahan agrees.

Though, see to it to choose the ones lower in sodium.

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FoodData Central.Cheese, ricotta, whole milk.