Double the Salt for a Healthy Heart?
By
Natalie Moore
Posted December 3, 2016
Dear Living Well Daily Reader,
To salt or not to salt?
That is the ultimate blood pressure question.
Well, at least it has been for the last handful of decades. And it’s been the cause of great confusion for folks who want to take care of their hearts.
Fortunately, researchers have pinpointed the exact amount of salt you should be eating every day to keep a healthy heart.
It’s a lot more than you think… and if you’re not getting enough salt, you could actually be putting your life in danger.
Current Dietary Guidelines for Americans suggest you should consume less than 2.3 g of salt daily.
But now it looks like that’s way, way off.
The latest research indicates that eating double this amount, or 4–5 g of salt every day, is the sweet spot for heart health.
And if you’re getting much less than that, you may be doing permanent damage to your health.
Researchers studied the health data of over 133,000 people for four years. During the study, researchers tracked blood pressure readings and estimated sodium consumption.
Turns out that people without high blood pressure who consumed less than 3 grams of salt daily were a whopping 26 percent more likely to die or suffer from heart disease and stroke than folks who ate 4–5 g daily.
And get this – if you already have high blood pressure, eating less than 3 g of salt a day is actually 34 percent more dangerous for your health than eating more than 7 g a day.
It’s clear we’ve all been getting some pretty shoddy salt advice. But researchers say 4–5 g a day should be the new safe standard.
So be sure to dust off those salt shakers and use them liberally this weekend to get that perfect 4–5 g serving of salt.
Live well,
Natalie Moore
Managing editor, Living Well Daily
Ed. Note: Please send your feedback: nmoore@lfb.org – and click here to like us on Facebook.
Sources
[1] GET THE FACTS: Sodium and the Dietary Guidelines
Written By Natalie Moore
Natalie Moore is a dedicated health researcher with a passion for finding healthy, natural, and science-based solutions. After a decade of direct healthcare experience in western and natural medicine, she was involved in public health research before joining Living Well Daily.
View More Free Articles
Sneaky Microplastic Invaders Cross the Gut Barrier
We’re under attack, invaded by an invisible enemy worming its way into every nook and cranny of our lives… and bodies. I’m talking about microplastics, those tiny, insidious plastic particles contaminating our water, food, and even the air we breathe. It’s a full-blown crisis, and it’s happening right under our noses! Scientists have sounded the...
Humble Gut Bugs are Heart Disease Superheroes
Unless you’ve been living on a remote island, you likely have an idea of how vital good gut health is for your overall well-being. After all, what we’ve learned about the microbiome’s relationship to our health in the last few years is nothing short of mind-blowing. A well-balanced microbiome has been linked to a lower...
Forget Fasting and Try THIS Instead
Thirty years ago, one of my hippie cousins gave me a jar filled with liquid and a mysterious white blob floating in it. Puzzled, I asked them what it was. They called it a “kombucha tea starter.” I was curious enough to give it a shot and make some of the tea. The process was...
Five Game-Changing “Hacks” for Optimal Health
The other day, a patient told me she was doing “everything” she could for her health. When I asked her what she meant, much to my surprise, she told me she stopped using the microwave. I assure you that’s NOT everything. Sure, microwaving food has some downsides. But let’s be realistic; avoiding them won’t significantly...
The Vitamin NO Diabetic Can Afford to Ignore
The fact that so many Americans STILL have low vitamin D is puzzling. After all, the research showing how VITAL the vitamin is to our health is overwhelming. For example, maintaining adequate vitamin D levels reduces the risk of osteoporosis, multiple sclerosis, heart disease, cancer, autoimmune disease, respiratory infections, depression, and more. But new research...
Mailbag: Holistic Hacks to Manage Parkinson’s Symptoms
“My husband has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and I’ve noticed that his tremors and stiffness seem to be getting worse. Is there anything that can slow the disease? I’m worried about the side effects of his medications.” -Barb Hi Barb, A holistic approach focusing on physical activity, nutrition, and brain health is essential to...
One Ingredient Diet Hack TRANSFORMS Your Health
Trust me, I get it. You TRULY want to improve your health and feel and look better. However, just thinking about dieting makes you feel frustrated, exhausted, and ready to give up before you even get started. Because, let’s be honest, change is hard. But what if I told you that improving your health doesn’t...
Microplastic Mayhem Threatens Your Heart [ALERT]
As a regular Living Well Daily reader, you likely already know quite a bit about microplastics. After all, I’ve often written about the dangers they pose to our health. More research is needed to determine the precise damage ingesting microplastics causes, but we’ve already learned a thing or two. For example, studies have linked them...
Eyes Unlock Dementia Secrets a DECADE Early
The eyes are the window to the soul. We all know the old saying, of course. Its precise origins are unclear (it’s been attributed to the Bible, William Shakespeare, and Leonardo Da Vinci), but we know it’s true. After all, our eyes DO have a way of exposing our feelings. However, it’s not just emotions...
End the Afternoon Slump with THIS Evening Trick
We often joke about the afternoon slump and drifting off in our easy chairs. But the reality is when that fatigue keeps you from doing the things you love (or need) to do, your quality of life takes a serious hit. Take napping, for example. A daytime nap can be a refreshing luxury when you...