Hold the salt

Spicing up your food with a little salt may be common for some but adding sodium to your diet can negatively impact your heart health. Sodium causes the body to hold excess fluid which, in turn, increases your blood pressure. The higher your blood pressure, the greater the burden on your heart, which can lead to heart disease. A high blood pressure occurs when the flow of blood against the artery wall is too high.

Avoiding adding additional table salt to your food is a good first step in reducing your sodium intake but it may not be enough. Sodium is also present in multiple foods including processed and packaged foods. Limiting these foods, as best as you can, is a cornerstone in preventing high blood pressure and is essential in lowering your blood pressure if high blood pressure is already a problem. The recommended daily salt intake is no more than 1500 milligrams, according to the American Heart Association. Skip the salt and aim to include fresher, minimally processed foods in your diet.

Make sure you’re getting your blood pressure checked by a physician regularly. Your heart will thank you.

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