something like 1 gram of salt per day, a
requirement that goes up with physical
activity since we lose body fluids and
minerals in sweat. Thanks to its presence in
nearly all manufactured foods, the average
daily salt intake in the United States is around
ten times the requirement.
Medical scientists have long suspected that
constant excessive salt intake results in an
excessive volume of plasma being contained
in our blood vessels, and therefore causes high
blood pressure, which damages the blood
vessels and increases the risk of heart disease
and stroke. However, low-salt diets have been
found to lower high blood pressure only
modestly, and only in some people. And low-
salt diets have surprising side effects of their
own, including undesirable increases in blood
cholesterol levels. At this time, it appears that
the most beneficial nonmedical influences on
blood pressure are general dietary balance —
more vegetables, fruits, and seeds rich in
barry
(Barry)
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