The consequences of excessive consumption of salt

It is believed that in industrialized countries eat 10 to 20 times more salt than necessary, thus increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Excessive consumption of salt is usually associated with high blood pressure, but it should be recognized that research on a larger number of people do not always show the same results. However, most research shows that reducing salt intake and a diet low in this foodstuff reduce blood pressure in people in whom elevated in those who did not.

Because people with high blood pressure is recommended to reduce salt intake since a reduction of about 5 to 6 grams a day lowers blood pressure by about 10 / 7 mm Hg, which is clinically significant. The consequences of chronic hypertension can damage many organs, including the most heart, blood vessels and kidneys. It is estimated that every 5.8 grams of salt are encouraged to be excreted from the body 30-40 grams of calcium, which is a large amount and not just because of the increased risk of developing osteoporosis, but also because of increased opportunities for the formation of calcium kidney stones and bladder stones.

Research in the U.S. showed that the average American diet provides people with about 10 grams of salt per day, while the society to combat hypertension recommend that the body does not bring more than 4 grams. Given that the situation is similar in other developed countries, to conclude that a man twice a day eat more salt than is recommended in order to maintain good blood pressure. Particular danger of industrially processed foods is a changed ratio of sodium (salt) and potassium. Potassium is a mineral that is the most manipulated food processing.

Unprocessed foods contain, on average the ratio of potassium to sodium 7:1, ie, an average of seven times more potassium than sodium. Industrial processing of food, these ratios change by drastically increasing the amount of sodium. For example, 100 grams of boiled potato contains 540 milligrams of potassium and 2 milligrams of sodium, while french fries contains 270 milligrams of potassium and 430 milligrams sodium. Then, 100 grams of fresh carrots contains 342 milligrams of potassium and 48 milligrams of sodium, while canned contains 145 milligrams of potassium and 245 milligrams sodium.

These examples show that industrially processed foods to feed to most people the cause of the large number of cardiovascular disease because potassium enhances sodium excretion from the body and widens the blood vessels and thus improves the drop in blood pressure.