Eating plans that improve your heart health are usually low in sodium, but why is salt bad for your heart? Learn how salt affects your heart.
Salt is not inherently bad, but too much can negatively affect your health – and American diets are full of sodium. Typical American diets usually contain about three times the amount of sodium needed, which causes the body to retain water.
As a result, blood pressure rises and puts a strain on blood vessels, the kidneys, and the heart. Moreover, high blood pressure (or hypertension) is one of the most significant risk factors that lead to heart disease.
Managing Salt Intake
When it comes to managing salt intake, it’s safe to assume that everyone can benefit from managing their sodium consumption. In fact, most people don’t know how much salt they are consuming, thinking that avoiding their salt shaker is enough.
However, many of the foods we eat (especially processed foods) already contain high amounts of sodium without adding table salt. If you want to take care of your blood pressure and heart health, managing your salt intake is essential.
According to recommendations by the American Heart Association, you should limit your salt intake to 1,500 mg per day. As people age, their blood pressure naturally increases, so it’s good to keep your salt consumption in check.
To illustrate how easy it is to consume more salt than necessary, one teaspoon of salt is 2,300 mg. Also, pay attention to serving sizes; a can of soup may have 800 mg of sodium per serving, but the can may have multiple servings, making it easy to exceed your intake.
How to Reduce Salt Intake
One of the best ways to reduce your sodium is to prepare foods at home and use herbs and spices. If you need a guide, you can follow the DASH diet, an eating plan designed to lower blood pressure.
While eating less salty foods may be new for you, it won’t take long for your tastebuds to adjust. Finally, look to alternative options that will make your current foods less salty while also limiting your portions.
While minimizing how much salt you eat will help improve your blood pressure, keep in mind that it’s no cure. In addition to salt, many other factors can play a role in developing hypertension such as lack of exercise.
If you want to strengthen your heart, limiting sodium should be one part of an overall health plan. Moreover, you should get your blood pressure and cholesterol checked and talk to your doctor about plans to improve your health.
The Outlook
While salt may not be inherently bad, too much of it can lead to high blood pressure and heart disease. As you work to limit your sodium intake, make sure to practice other heart-healthy habits.
This includes exercising regularly, eating healthy, and taking daily supplements like HeartBeet Complete. Its ingredients help promote circulation, lower blood pressure, energy levels, and more.
Try HeartBeet Complete along with lowering your salt intake as part of a plan to boost your heart health.
