In a new study it is stressed that cutting salt prevents heart disease. Often high blood pressure has an association with eating too much salty food. But this may not have to be necessarily from salt you added to your food. Eating too much processed food can also make you exceed your daily salt allowance. This can increase your blood pressure as well, which in turn can cause heart attacks, heart failure, strokes and kidney disease.
A comprehensive review has noticed that a reduction in salt intake reduces the risk of heart disease, strokes and kidney disease significantly. In addition, you cutting out added salt can even avoid dementia from preventing small vessel disease.
Who is at risk for developing high blood pressure?
Statistics from the United Kingdom show that the black population develops high blood pressure 3-4 times as often as the general population. They also have twice the mortality from stroke. Older people who have known high blood pressure are the next population group at risk behind blacks. Statistics from the US show that African American men and women have 40% more high blood pressure compared to the rest of the population.
A February 2020 study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology looked at 200 published studies and the impact of salt on the bacteria in our gut, on the small blood vessels and our immune system.
It is the small blood vessel damage that can lead to kidney disease and Alzheimer’s disease. Not to cut down your salt consumption can also lead to heart attacks and strokes.
BMJ article regarding 133 studies and salt restriction
The British Medical Journal published an article in January 2020 that summarized the findings of 133 original research papers regarding the effect of reducing salt intake.
Not everybody responded in the same fashion. Older people, non-white people and those with higher baseline blood pressure responded with a larger reduction in blood pressure. 24-hour urine collections asserted that all had reduced the salt intake in an equal manner. The interesting result of the study was that salt restriction reduced high blood pressure most in older people, non-white people and those with higher baseline blood pressures.
Blood pressure recommendations
The new guidelines for a normal blood pressure are 120/80 or less. This link recommends the DASH diet, if the blood pressure is too high. The American Heart Association recommends to restrict your salt intake to less than 2300 mg per day.
Ideally, you restrict your daily salt consumption to 1500 mg. Cutting back your salt consumption to 1000 mg per day lowers your blood pressure and prevents heart disease.
Cutting Salt Prevents Heart Disease
Conclusion
Salt restriction has been in the news from time to time. Several medical studies have reconfirmed that lower salt intake is healthy for your blood pressure and your heart. A British Medical Journal study showed that salt restriction lowers blood pressure. Further the study noticed that those who benefit most from salt restriction are older people and non-white people. Also, people with higher baseline blood pressure readings are among the ones who benefit most from salt restriction. Reducing your salt intake to 1000 mg per day will also lower your blood pressure and avoid cardiovascular disease. Regular exercise and a healthy diet (such as the DASH diet) will also contribute to lowering your blood pressure.
