subject: Limiting Sodium to Have a Healthy Heart [print this page] Limiting Sodium to Have a Healthy Heart Limiting Sodium to Have a Healthy Heart
Sodium is a mineral that is useful to maintain the balance of liquids in your body. Besides, it can help transmit the nerve impulse that influences the contraction and relaxation of muscles.
However, if your blood contains too much sodium, the blood volume will increase because the mineral will extract and bind water. So, heart will work very hard to pump up to channel the blood volume that increases. As a result, the pressure in artery will increase.
In this modern era, the possibility for you to consume too much sodium is very high. Almost everyday, you cannot avoid consuming the food that has been processed and contains high sodium, like soup, broth, canned vegetable, sauce, and many more. You also accustomed to add salt every time you eat or snack.
Indeed, there is still an opinion difference about the limitation of the use of salt. Can its limitation really help reduce the blood pressure?
Several researches show the fact that reducing to consume sodium will reduce blood pressure. That is why, the National High Blood Pressure Education Program by National Institutes of Health suggests all Americans to limit the consumption of sodium to be not more than 2.400 milligrams everyday. The proof shows that limiting sodium is proper and safe. Even, a lot of health experts support the existence of low sodium diet.
If you have high blood pressure and you are sensitive with sodium, reducing to consume this mineral can help reduce blood pressure. By limiting the consumption of this mineral and changing your life style, you might not need medicine. If you have used medicine, by reducing the consumption of this mineral, the medicine will be more effective.