(24-05-11) Does eating lots of salt really affect blood pressure?

by Ethan A. Huff, staff writer

(NaturalNews) A new European study recently published in the Journal of the
American Medical Association defies conventional wisdom concerning salt intake
and heart health, suggesting that high salt consumption does not always lead to
high blood pressure and heart disease.

Researchers from the University of Leuven in Belgium analyzed data on 3,700
Europeans that contributed urine samples at the beginning of the study, none of
whom had heart disease, and two-thirds of whom had normal blood pressure. All
participants were assigned to either low-salt, moderate-salt, or high-salt
diets, and were then evaluated over the course of eight years.

At the conclusion of the study, the research team observed that heart and
blood vessel disease rates did not differ among the salt intake groups.
However, four percent of those in the low-salt group died from heart disease,
while only one percent died in the high-salt group, indicating that low-salt
diets may actually be more of a health risk than high-salt diets.

Additionally, roughly 25 percent of all participants, no matter what group
they were assigned to, ended up with high blood pressure during or at the
completion of the study. Overall, there were no significant differences
observed between salt intake groups, other than a slight increase in systolic
blood pressure among those in the high-salt groups. But researchers say the
increase was so small that it is likely inconsequential.

"It's clear that one should be very careful in advocating generalized
reduction in sodium intake in the population at large," stated Dr. Jan
Staessen, author of the study. "There might be some benefits, but there might
also be some adverse effects."

It is unclear precisely what type of sodium was used in the study. Highly
processed, synthetic salts, and other artificial salt additives, are highly
toxic to the body. Natural, unrefined, full-spectrum sea and mineral salts, on
the other hand, provide the body with necessary trace minerals, as well as
beneficial sodium that helps keep the body properly hydrated (http://www.
naturalnews.com/028724_H...).

Sources for this story include:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011...

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In evidenza

"L'informazione presente nel sito serve a migliorare, e non a sostituire, il rapporto medico-paziente."

Per coloro che hanno problemi di salute si consiglia di consultare sempre il proprio medico curante.