Article: Tastefully Reducing Sodium-- September 2009
Kathie Wrick,
Contributing Editor
Few
researchers doubt high blood pressure is a leading contributor to heart disease
and stroke. However, a simple cause-and-effect epidemiological linkage is
undermined by physiological complexity, since many other factors are involved
in blood pressure regulation. Some people with high blood pressure can bring it
down with a sodium-restricted diet, but most hypertensive people do not respond
to low sodium intakes and require medication. Additionally, one study of people
with normal blood pressure showed no blood pressure rise until over 18g sodium
was consumed (Sagnella, GA, et al. 1989. Am J Physiol. 256:R1171 –R1175). In another study of
young men, over 24g--the equivalent to over 61g (10tsp) of salt--had to be
consumed before blood pressure finally rose (Luft, FC, et al. 1979. Circulation. 60:697-706).