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The issue: High blood pressure

One in every three men over the age of 20 has hypertension or is taking blood pressure medication, according to 2014 research from the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics.

What to do:

True, you can cut back on using your saltshaker at home, but you’ll get the biggest impact elsewhere. Restaurant meals account for nearly 25 percent of the sodium in the average American diet—and Americans dine out at fast food and sit-down restaurants almost five times each week.

The remaining 75 percent of the sodium in the average American diet comes from salt added to processed foods, such as canned soups, condiments, meal helpers, breads and cereals, cold cuts and cured meats, pizza, poultry and sandwiches. Reduce your sodium intake by eating more from-scratch meals at home and filling at least half your plate each meal with a variety of fruits and vegetables—their high mineral content can blunt sodium’s impact.

Also, consider taking an L-arginine amino acid supplement, which some research indicates can lower blood pressure. Another benefit for men: L-arginine may help with erectile dysfunction.

What to eat:

Incorporate more beans into meals by adding them to salads and soups, eating cooked beans as a side dish and snacking on hummus or other bean dips. Use beans to make healthier versions of the foods you’re already eating (try mashing beans onto pizza crust, mixing them into burgers and adding them to tacos). Beans are an excellent source of blood pressure–reducing minerals, such as magnesium, calcium and potassium. Plus, they’re loaded with fiber, which research shows can significantly reduce blood pressure in men with hypertension.