High blood pressure is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, so lowering blood pressure by reducing sodium intake can also lower your risk for heart attack and stroke. "Worldwide, 54 per cent of strokes and 47 per cent of heart disease are attributed to hypertension," says Dr Yehya. "Excess sodium has blood pressure-independent effects promoting left ventricular hypertrophy [a pumping problem of the heart's main chamber] as well as fibrosis [thickening and scarring] in the heart and arteries." Although there has been some debate on the direct link between salt consumption and heart health, heat specialists remain convinced that sodium reduction is beneficial. Learn how salt became the modern-day food manufacturer's best friend - and how to reduce your intake.
By reducing sodium, you'll automatically eat healthier food. This is because most salt in our diet doesn't come from table salt – it comes from processed and prepared foods, which use high amounts of sodium as a preservative; they contain plenty of other unhealthy ingredients, as well. "If you start to shift your diet to include more whole, unprocessed food, this naturally helps to reduce sodium intake," Palinski-Wade says. "In addition, this can help to reduce your intake of added sugars and refined carbohydrates while increasing fibre. This shift can promote a reduction in kilojoules with an increased feeling of fullness that can lead to weight loss." Add these fat-burning food options to your diet to really improve your health.
Following a DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) of lots of fruits and vegetables can help reduce sodium. But, it's also important to maintain enough potassium, which helps balance out sodium. "As sodium intake increases, the demand for potassium can increase as well," Palinski-Wade says. "A low potassium intake with a high sodium intake can increase the risk of high blood pressure. Some research suggests that eating more potassium may reverse the effects of too much sodium in the diet, and diets rich in potassium have been shown to lower blood pressure levels." Fruits, veggies, and beans are excellent dietary sources of potassium. But those with kidney problems may have problems filtering excess potassium, so check with your doctor before increasing your intake. Read how potassium can help reduce the tummy-bloating caused by a salty diet.
Less salt may help other organs besides your heart. High blood pressure can damage the kidneys and lead to kidney failure. Plus, "independent of its effects on blood pressure, excess sodium intake can affect the kidneys," says Dr Yehya, even causing renal stones. In addition, too much sodium can up your risk for osteoporosis, as it increases how much calcium – crucial important for bone health – is excreted in urine. High sodium can also lead to impaired cognition in the brain through reduced blood flow.
For people who already have high blood pressure, lifestyle remedies including reducing salt in the diet can be enough to avoid medications altogether. "Reduced sodium intake can lower the blood pressure and help in hypertension control," Dr Yehya says. But a low sodium diet can even be effective if incorporated later. "Some patients might eventually be weaned off or have reduced doses of medications if they pursue a DASH diet and consume low sodium," Dr Yehya says.
Researchers are still debating whether a low-salt diet can improve the health of people with normal blood pressure, but most still advise aiming for the daily recommended guidelines. The reason? Nearly one in three adults will develop hypertension. The recommended level of total sodium consumption is less than 1,500 mg a day. Talk to your doctor about the best limit for you. Hypertension has a way of silently descending on us. Here are six sneaky causes to check on.
Your body does need some sodium: Although it's relatively rare, too little salt can cause health troubles. "A few observational studies note that a 'too low' sodium diet can be harmful, but there is no general consensus on that," Dr Yehya says. Too little sodium –known as hyponatremia – may be caused by a combination of overexertion, sweating too much, and drinking too much water (such as when running a marathon). Hyponatremia can also be a danger for people on diuretics (water pills) for high blood pressure, and those with congestive heart failure. Some people with low blood pressure may also need a higher salt intake, so check with your doctor before embarking on an extremely low-sodium diet.
A high salt diet can lead to dehydration – and it can make you really thirsty. "Eating more sodium alone doesn't cause you to pee more, but it can increase thirst – and as you drink more, you are more likely to excrete more urine," Palinski-Wade says. "High sodium diets without additional fluid intake can, however, force the body to pull water out of other cells, which may increase the risk of dehydration." Reducing your salt intake can help keep your fluid levels more balanced, with less risk of dehydration or trips to the toilet: One study showed lowering sodium led to fewer night time bathroom visits.
"Increased sodium intake has been linked to gastric cancer," Dr Yehya says. Although research confirms this, the exact reason for the link isn't known. According to the American Cancer Society, certain gut bacteria thought to be a cause of stomach cancer are more prevalent in high salt diets; it's a reason why the organization recommends cutting back on salted fish and meats as well as pickled vegetables.
A 2014 study from Johns Hopkins found that people who reduced the sodium in their diet had fewer headaches than people who continued to eat the same way. Interestingly, it didn't matter what type of diet they were on – DASH or a typical Western diet: The only thing that mattered was the level of sodium. Although the researchers aren't sure why sodium has this effect, they theorize blood vessels may have to expand to accommodate extra blood volume sodium creates, triggering pain. "Reduced dietary sodium intake offers a novel approach to prevent headaches," the authors concluded. Check to see whether your diet could be the cause of your headaches.
Cutting down on salt in your diet doesn't mean everything will taste bland: "Large amounts of added salt can dull your taste buds, which means you will need more and more salt to achieve the desired 'salty' taste you crave," Palinski-Wade says. "As you scale back on your salt intake, your taste buds become more sensitized, and that allows you to appreciate the salt more and help you to satisfy your salt fix with less actual sodium." One serving of this common food has more salt than a McDonald's burger.
According to Dr Yehya, studies have reported that reducing sodium intake by 1,200 mg daily could lead to up to 120,000 fewer coronary heart disease cases, up to 66,000 fewer strokes, 99,000 fewer myocardial infarctions, and 92,000 fewer deaths from any cause.
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