salt/blood pressure question

Factual Questions
1

So does salt intake cause high blood pressure? Or does salt simply aggravate blood pressure in people who already have high blood pressure?

My wife and I have this disagreement. She won’t allow me to keep a salt shaker on the table because she claims that salt tends to raise a persons blood pressure. She also doesn’t want the kids to get in the habit of always putting salt on their food. I, on the other hand, believe that salt is harmless to a person with no history of high blood pressure, and that a healthy person can eat all the salt they want(within reason) without any detrimental side effects.

Who’s right?

2

A high salt diet is certainly a factor in hypertension. Though it is only one of many.

Even though you have salt on the table you might still have an overall low salt intake if you dont eat processed foods. Processed foods like cured meats tinned soups and fast food are an insidious carrier of salt. It is used as a preservative and makes the rubbish ‘tastier’.
You tend to notice salt sprinkled on your home cooked food more because more of it comes in contact with your taste buds.

So, it all depends what other foods you eat.

Remember that hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease - the number one killer of westerners. Keep the salt on the table, use it sparingly and dont eat junk food.

3

This is not at all a straightforward question.

IMO, the evidence indicates that if you have hypertension, then restricting dietary salt will lower your blood pressure, modestly. If you don’t have hypertension, and if you’re so-called “salt-sensitive”, then excess dietary salt will raise your BP. For everyone else, salt is probably neutral.

Here is an abstract that summarizes a recent review of the topic.

Here is an abstract that summarizes the effect of dietary salt restriction if you’ve got hypertension.

In fairness, I believe that many people would disagree with these conclusions.

4

I’d say try a salt substitute, but Cecil sez check with your doctor first.

5

Studies have hown that for about a third of those with hypertension, reducing salt intake will help lower blood pressure. For most it is not a factor.

Low sodium intake is a factor in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Personally, if my spouse told me I could not have a salt shaker on the table, I’d laugh. If he persisted, it would be him, not the salt that would leave.

6

Getting rid of the salt shaker may not reduce sodium intake. It’s better to choose ingredients low in salt (i.e. no canned or processed meat, hold the soup stock, etc.). And if you end up with food too bland to eat, add just a bit of salt at the table. The salt would then be on the surface so you’d taste it more, and you’d know it has salt so subconsciously it tastes better.

7

I cook with very little salt. It takes less salt after preperation to affect the flavor that in does when you add it during cooking. There are exceptions, like salt potatoes!