In a study conducted by the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University in Chicago, it was revealed that a diet rich in foods that are connected with lower blood pressure did not counteract the blood pressure-increasing effects of consuming too much salt.
When the force of blood that pushes against the artery walls becomes too high, it is called hypertension or high blood pressure. This affects the heart and blood vessels and higher the risk of a stroke and a heart disease.
It does not matter how healthy your diet is if you are eating a higher amount of salt. People who eat too much salt are prone to high blood pressure and are at a higher risk of a heart attack or a stroke.
For the study published in the journal Hypertension, around 4,600 people aged 40-59 were examined for four days.
The researchers evaluated potassium and sodium concentration in the urine samples to test the amount of salt intake per person.
In the study, it was found that high blood pressure and higher salt intake are correlated—even in people who were taking high potassium or high protein diet.
"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," said Queenie Chan, a research student at the Imperial College in London.
“Having a low salt diet is key - even if your diet is otherwise healthy and balanced,” Chan added. “As a large amount of the slat in our diets comes from processed food, we are urging food manufacturers to take steps to reduce salt in their products.”
Based on the results, the researchers concluded that eating high amounts of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains will not counterbalance the negative effects of too much salt.
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