14 DAY TRIAL // Eating too much salt causes high blood pressure, medical experts have been telling us for what seems like an eternity. What's interesting is that, according to a new science report, too much salt does more than just upset blood pressure.
In a new study in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, specialists with the University of Delaware in the US and their colleagues explain how indulging in one too many salty treats can harm blood vessels, the heart, the kidneys and even the brain.
Specifically, the researchers argue that too much salt can damage the inner lining of blood vessels, cause one's arteries to stiffen, make the heart's walls grow thicker, reduce renal function and negatively affect the sympathetic nervous system.
It is said that people should try to cut their daily salt intake to just 500 milligrams (about 0.017 ounces). The trouble is that a whole lot of foods that the majority of people eat pretty much every day of their life contain plenty of salt. Even worse, folks are not even aware of it.
“Approximately 70 percent of the sodium in our diets comes from processed foods, including items that we don’t typically think of as salty such as breads and cereals. Also, restaurant food typically contains more salt than dishes prepared at home,” says researcher William Weintraub.