Health and Wellness Review

Salt, though delicious, can lead to high blood pressure

By now we all know the dangers of salt – though a tasty addition to meals, too much sodium can lead to high blood pressure, which in turn can have serious or even fatal complications. The human body does require sodium to survive, but too little is hardly a problem for modern Americans. In fact, very little of our sodium intake comes from the salt shaker these days – about three-quarters comes from processed foods.

You’ll have to start reading nutritional labels if you want to cut down on your sodium intake. Many foods that don’t taste salty in fact contain high levels of sodium, as do lots of condiments. Manufacturers also use salt to cover up the bitter taste that can be a byproduct of canning. In addition, sodium can come from sources other than salt (sodium chloride): MSG, baking powder, baking soda, or sodium nitrate.

We’re so used to salt that it can be hard to learn to live without it, at least at first. However, as you eat less salt, you’ll find you miss it less, and you’ll start enjoying the flavors of your food even more. There are lots of other ways to add flavor to your food: herbs, spices, lemon juice, or salt substitutes. And food tastes so much better when you’re alive to enjoy it, don’t you agree?

You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.