Salt can lurk in many foods—the serving of fries alongside your cheeseburger, the bowl of pretzels on the coffee table during the game and even in your deli sandwich. Diets with high sodium intake can lead to a slew of health conditions, including high blood pressure, heart failure, kidney problems, strokes and gastric cancer.
A new study, however, has taken sodium consumption to a new level. According to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, clear changes can be seen in your arteries in just 30 minutes after you ingest a salty snack. Their research has found that salty foods rapidly impair the ability of blood vessels to widen—even in individuals with normal blood pressure.
“What surprised us was that this is similar to responses seen after a meal high in saturated fats, which we know can damage blood vessels in the long-term,” Kacie M. Dickinson, the study’s lead author and researcher at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization in Adelaide, Australia, said.
The results of this study are staggering. If you think about the fact that sodium affects out heart in a mere 30 minutes—just think of what it can do during a lifetime of salty snacks. Here are a few tips to help you steer clear of salt-laden foods:
• Skip fast food. It has been found that if you eat fast food even once a week, you are likely getting 2 to 3 times as much salt as you need.
• Read labels. Check the regular items on your grocery list for salt content. Look for low sodium foods—if you purchase canned items, it is often prominently listed on the label.
• Keep the saltshaker off the dining room table. This way, you will be less inclined to douse your meal with a sprinkle of the white crystals.
• Avoid packaged foods. Stick to fresh fruits and vegetables instead—they are better for you and are generally tastier.
How do you keep the salt at bay? Share your tips and ideas with Assisted Living Colorado by leaving a comment below.