If your blood pressure is normal, that does not mean you can ignore how much salt you consume.

A high salt diet leads to:

• Reduced functioning of the endothelium. The endothelium is the inner lining of blood vessels which mediates coagulation, immune function, and platelet adhesion.
• Stiffening of arteries. The stiffer the arteries, the harder the heart works.
• Enlargement of the muscle tissue comprising the wall of the heart’s main pumping chamber. This enlargement can cause the heart to not pump blood with optimal force and efficiency.
• Impaired sodium-potassium balance causing reduced kidney function.
• Increased calcium excretion into the urine increasing risk for kidney stones and osteoporosis.
• Increased risk for stomach cancer. Research has determined salt and salty foods to be a “probable cause of stomach cancer.”
• Weight gain connected to salty foods leads to thirst and consumption of high sugar beverages to alleviate thirst.
• Bloating and water retention.
• Aggravated asthma symptoms.
• Worsening Meniere’s Disease symptoms, such tinnitus and hearing loss connected to fluid retention resulting in increased inner ear pressure.

Adjust your diet to reduce salt intake.

Nearly three-quarters of the salt in our diet comes from processed foods. Restaurant meals tend to be higher in sodium than meals prepared at home.

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