Healthy eating does not offset the damage caused by a high-salt diet, study finds

Healthy eating does not offset a high-salt diet, new research suggests, according to Daily Mail.

Overseasoning food raises people’s blood pressure regardless of how many fruit and vegetables they eat, a study found today.

Consuming more than the average person’s daily salt intake of 8.5 grams causes the heart to work significantly harder to pump blood around the body, putting people at risk of life-threatening strokes, the research adds.

Lead author Dr Queenie Chan, said: ‘We currently have a global epidemic of high salt intake and high blood pressure. This research shows there are no cheats when it comes to reducing blood pressure.

 ‘Having a low-salt diet is key – even if your diet is otherwise healthy and balanced.’

  Health centers recommend adults eat no more than around one-and-a-quarter teaspoons of salt, or six grams, a day, which is easily exceeded if people eat ready-prepared food.

High blood pressure affects more than one in four adults.  

We are urging food manufacturers to take steps to reduce salt’ 

On their back of the study’s findings, Dr Chan said: ‘As a large amount of the salt in our diet comes from processed food, we are urging food manufacturers to take steps to reduce salt in their products.’

Longer, larger studies are required to assess the impact of people’s overall diets on their blood-pressure readings, the scientists adds. 

The researchers, analysed data which investigated the diets of 4,680 people aged between 40 and 59.

Two urine samples were taken from the study’s participants over four days.

These samples were assessed for their sodium and potassium levels. Potassium is present in high amounts in green, leafy vegetables and has been linked to lower blood pressure.

The study’s participants’ overall diets were also analysed. 

Two teaspoons of salt a day damages the heart  

This comes after research released last year suggested eating just two teaspoons of salt a day damages the heart.

Having a sodium intake of 3.73 grams, the equivalent of around two teaspoons of salt, is associated with larger heart chambers, a study found.

Previous research suggests hearts become enlarged when the muscle is overworked due to an underlying condition, such as high blood pressure.

Such a salt intake also increases strain on the heart’s muscles and boosts its beating rate, the research adds.

These results are thought to be due to salt’s impact on blood pressure, which previous research has linked to heart attacks, stroke and kidney disease.

N.H.Kh