Scientists determined that reducing daily salt intake by only one teaspoon can drastically decrease blood pressure. This study’s findings were just published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. A significant reduction in systolic blood pressure was found in around 75% of the participants in the study, which was a diet order crossover, including 213 persons aged 50 to 75. Â
Participants in the study were randomly allocated to either a high- or low-sodium diet for a certain amount of time. During the high-sodium phase, they supplemented their average meal with two bouillon packets, increasing their total sodium consumption to 1,100 mg. In contrast, during the low-sodium phase, participants strictly adhered to a nutritionist-created diet, limiting their salt intake to 500 mg per day. The low-sodium diet reduced systolic blood pressure by 8 mm Hg after only one week. Â
According to the American Heart Association, almost half of all Americans have hypertension (high blood pressure). One-third of persons diagnosed with hypertension have “resistant” hypertension, which means that even rigorous medication fails to lower blood pressure to normal levels. In September, the World Health Organization issued a report warning of the dangers of untreated hypertension, such as cardiac arrest, heart failure, kidney damage, and stroke. Â
Genetics, lack of sleep, stress, obesity, diabetes, and hormonal alterations that occur during pregnancy and menopause can all contribute to hypertension. According to Dr. M. Scott Dawson of Inspira Medical Group Cardiology, changes in arterial elasticity and blood volume might affect blood pressure. Â
Adults in the United States are advised to take no more than a teaspoon of salt (2,300 mg) each day. The American Heart Association recommends that those with high blood pressure take no more than 1,500 mg of salt each day. Consuming low-fat dairy, vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, as well as minimizing your salt intake, can all help keep your blood pressure in a healthy range. Â
This pioneering study demonstrates that hypertension may be efficiently treated without medication, and it also demonstrates how a seemingly simple dietary adjustment can have far-reaching positive consequences on public health. These discoveries have the potential to pave the way for more accessible and all-encompassing approaches to managing high blood pressure, which remains a significant public health concern.Â
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