| If we can get into the habit of eating salt less - | | | | pressure is more likely to be sensitive to salt." |
| even if we only cut just one gram of salt from | | | | For the study, the researchers used a computer |
| our diet, this could mean 250,000 fewer cases of | | | | simulation called the Coronary Heart Disease Policy |
| heart disease and more than 200,000 fewer | | | | Model that was able to estimate the impact of |
| deaths over a ten year period according to some | | | | cutting salt by up to 6 grams on heart disease |
| brand new research. | | | | and the deaths from heart disease. |
| Doctors have known for a long time that too | | | | According to this model, from 2010 and 2019 |
| much salt is tied to high blood pressure and heart | | | | there could be more than 800,000 "life years" |
| disease, yet Americans are still using 50% more | | | | saved for every gram of salt taken out of the |
| salt than they did in the 1970s. Blood pressure | | | | diet. |
| rates have gone up by just about the same | | | | If 6 grams a day were cut, there would be 1.4 |
| amount. | | | | million fewer cases of heart disease and 1.1 million |
| The real reason sodium is bad for us is because it | | | | fewer deaths. |
| causes the body to hold onto fluid - this added | | | | If you cut salt intake by 3 grams a day, the |
| fluid makes the heart work harder and this is | | | | model shows 6% fewer new cases of heart |
| where the problems starts. | | | | disease, 8% fewer heart attacks and 3% fewer |
| Too much salt can also bring on symptoms like | | | | deaths. |
| swelling and shortness of breath, and can | | | | Such benefits could be even better for African |
| encourage weight gain. | | | | American - there would be 10% fewer new |
| Today the average American eats 9-12 grams | | | | cases of heart disease, 13% fewer heart attacks |
| (3,600 to 4,800 milligrams) of salt each day, much | | | | and 6% fewer deaths, according to the research. |
| of this coming from processed foods. | | | | Of course cutting sodium isn't easy, because so |
| The recommendations provided by many health | | | | much of the salt in our diet comes from |
| organizations are from 5-6 grams (2,000 to 2,400 | | | | processed foods (such as packaged frozen |
| milligrams) a day. The American Heart Association | | | | dinners or meals, canned or dried soups, canned |
| recommends that healthy adults take in fewer | | | | meats/fish, prepared pancake, muffin or |
| than 2.3 grams of sodium a day. | | | | cornbread mixes, instant cooked cereals), not |
| "We found that very small reductions in salt | | | | what comes from the salt shaker that you have |
| intake would have very large health benefits in | | | | on your table, or what you add to food as part |
| the U.S. population," explains lead researcher Dr. | | | | of a recipe. |
| Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo who is an assistant | | | | What's more, eating salt less, especially if the |
| professor of medicine and epidemiology at the | | | | reductions are minor, wouldn't impact the overall |
| University of California, San Francisco. | | | | taste of the prepared foods, would make a large |
| "We found that everyone in the U.S. would | | | | impact on the number of heart disease diagnoses |
| benefit, but the benefits would be particularly | | | | and deaths. This is why it's so important to read |
| great for African-Americans, who are more likely | | | | the labels of the foods you buy to see how much |
| to have high blood pressure and whose blood | | | | sodium is in a food. |