|
Reduce Sodium Intake, Reduce
Heart Disease
Almost everything we eat contains at least a little sodium,
although many foods, especially
the processed variety, contain way too much. Our bodies only
need about 500 milligrams
(mg) of sodium a day; although current dietary recommendations
allow for 2,000 - 4,000
mg (1-2 teaspoons of salt), statistics show that the average
adult consumes almost
double that amount.
Limiting your sodium intake can reduce your risk of developing
high blood pressure
and cardiovascular disease, especially if you're overweight,
according to a study in
the Journal of the American Medical Association. Researchers
estimated dietary sodium
intake in 2,688 overweight subjects and 6,797 nonoverweight subjects,
then assessed
incidence of and/or death from cardiovascular disease over 19
years of follow-up.
Results: Among overweight participants, a relatively small
increase in sodium intake
was associated with substantial increases in disease risk: 32%
higher risk of stroke;
44% higher risk of heart disease; 61% higher risk of death from
heart disease; and
a 39% higher risk of death from all causes. Dietary sodium intake
was not significantly
associated with cardiovascular disease risk in nonoverweight
participants,
If you already have high blood pressure or a developing heart
condition, restricting
your sodium intake is even more imperative. Your doctor can give
you more information
on sodium and provide nutritional guidelines suitable to your
specific needs.
He J, Ogden LG, Vupputuri S, et al. Dietary sodium intake
and subsequent risk of cardiovascular
disease in overweight adults. Journal of the American Medical
Association, Dec. 1,
1999: Vol. 282, No. 21, pp2027-34.
| 
