1. Salt
The more salt we eat, the higher our blood pressure.
Salt makes the body hold onto water and if you eat too much, extra water in the blood puts pressure on blood vessel walls.
The NHS tells us to eat no more than six grams of salt a day (approximately one teaspoon).
2. Sugar and sugary drinks
Drinking lots of sugary drinks may raise blood pressure.
High levels of sugar in the blood can lead to a build-up of fatty material inside blood vessels, causing them to narrow (atherosclerosis) and a build-up of pressure.
One study linked sugar-sweetened beverages to higher blood pressure levels in children and adolescents.
Some sugary drinks also contain caffeine which elevates blood pressure further.