Put The Salt Shaker Down

No Matter How Well You Eat, Too Much Salt Still Causes High Blood Pressure, According To New Study.

It does not matter how healthy a person’s overall diet is, consuming too much salt still causes high blood pressure, according to a study published in the journal Hypertension.

The study was conducted by a team of researchers from different institutions, which included the Imperial College London and Northwestern University, who looked at the diets of more than 4,000 people. The research team used data from the INTERMAP study, which was conducted from 1997 to 1999, in which researchers monitored the diets of 4,680 people aged 40 to 59 years from the U.S., U.K., Japan, and China. The researchers of the INTERMAP study monitored the participants for four days, and took two urine samples within these days. Moreover, they measured the height, weight, and blood pressure of the participants.

In the current study, the research team analyzed concentrations of sodium and potassium in the urine samples. Sodium is the primary component of salt, and potassium is found in green leafy vegetables and has been linked to lower blood pressure. They also used dietary data to examine the participants’ consumption of more than 80 nutrients that may be associated to low blood pressure, such as vitamin C, fiber, and omega-3 fatty acids. It was previously believed that eating high amounts of fruit and vegetables, which contains a lot of vitamins and minerals, might help neutralize the effect of high salt on blood pressure.

Results showed a link between high blood pressure and higher salt intake, even in people who were eating a high amount of potassium and other nutrients. The research team also estimated salt intake by assessing sodium in the urine and analyzing dietary data. They found that average consumption of salt across the study was 10.7 grams (g) a day. The average intake for the U.S, was 9.6g, while the consumption for the U.K., China, and Japan were 8.5g, 13.4g, and 11.7g respectively. (MORE)

Source: Natural News