Author Question: Do all people with hypertension benefit from a low-salt diet? If not, what dietary intervention is ... (Read 39 times)

craiczarry · **on:** Aug 20, 2018

Do all people with hypertension benefit from a low-salt diet? If not, what dietary intervention is recommended?

Question 2

What are the most significant sources of sodium in the American diet?

patma1981 · **Reply #1 on:** Aug 20, 2018

Answer to Question 1

No, not all people are salt sensitive.. Sodium concentration of the blood is one of the major regulators of blood volume. For a small number of people, a low-salt diet actually increases blood pressure because it increases blood volume. For others, salt doesn't appear to influence blood pressure at all. One of the best dietary interventions to control hypertension is to follow the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) eating plan.

Answer to Question 2

The number one source of sodium is salt, especially that in processed foods. It is added during processing, cooking, and at the table. One teaspoon of salt provides 2,000 mg of sodium. Fast foods, frozen entrees, and savory snacks contain substantial amounts of sodium. Salt-containing condiments (soy sauce, ketchup, etc.) are also significant sources of sodium. Food additives such as monosodium glutamate (MSG) contain sodium. Foods such as dairy, bread, and meat/seafood contain natural amounts of sodium.