“Pass the salt” may be an oft-heard phrase at the American dinner table — but new research shows that people may want to limit that request if they can, no matter how healthy an eater they are otherwise.
The bottom line: If you’re eating higher amounts of salt, you’re still going to have high blood pressure, according to new research in Hypertension, a monthly, peer-reviewed journal.
Experts have suggested that eating an assortment of fruits and vegetables could help curb the effects of high salt as it relates to blood pressure — though this research indicates that’s apparently not the case.
Researchers analyzed data from a study conducted from 1997 to 1999, tracking diets of 4,680 people from the U.S., U.K., Japan and China who were between the ages of 40 and 59. Data collected included urine samples and height, weight and blood pressure measurements. The study, called INTERMAP, has been a component of various research projects.
For the purposes of the most recent analysis, researchers focused on sodium and potassium intake. Sodium is the chief ingredient in salt and potassium has been associated with low blood pressure, as it’s found in green leafy vegetables. Researchers also used the dietary data to determine nutrient intake that could be associated with low blood pressure.
There was indeed a correlation between high blood pressure and higher salt intake, with the average salt intake among study participants at 10.7 grams a day. To put that in context: 7 grams equals 1.2 teaspoons of salt. Specifically, the average U.S. salt intake was 9.6 grams.
This extra sodium can put people at a higher risk for heart disease and stroke. Reducing blood pressure, even by just a little bit, could limit the risk of conditions like a stroke. Combined, heart disease and strokes lead to more American deaths every year than anything else, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Scientists suggest that people should pay attention to how much salt they’re eating, and they ask that food manufacturers roll back the salt in their products. The CDC notes Americans consume 71 percent of their sodium every day in restaurants and through processed foods.
Still, not everyone recommends completely cutting sodium from your diet. The Salt Institute, a North American-based trade organization that promotes salt benefits, argues that studies have shown eliminating salt can have negative effects.
“Peer-reviewed research has shown that low-salt diets can lead to insulin resistance, congestive heart failure, cardiovascular events, iodine deficiency, loss of cognition, low birth weights, and higher rates of death,” the group said in a recent statement.
Researchers now want to look toward longer term studies, as they’re aware the data in the study was only collected during a four-day period, and expand their study to include a larger group of people.
For a look at what makes a healthy diet, check out the U.S. News & World Report Best Diets for Healthy Eating below:
9 Simple Ways to Reduce Your Sodium Intake Now
The Best Foods for Lowering Your Blood Pressure
More from U.S. News
9 Simple Ways to Reduce Your Sodium Intake Now
The Best Foods for Lowering Your Blood Pressure
These Healthy Seasonings Are Tasty Substitutes for Sugar and Salt
Study: Eating a Healthy Diet Might Not Counterbalance Your Salt Intake originally appeared on usnews.com
