According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 75 million American adults have high blood pressure — that’s one in every three. Though medications are available to treat high blood pressure, a healthy diet is the most effective defense. A diet high in sodium is thought to increase the risk of high blood pressure, a major cause of heart disease and stroke.
It’s worth explaining the difference between sodium and salt — salt is mostly sodium, a mineral that occurs naturally in foods. Sodium is the substance that may cause your blood pressure to increase. MSG (monosodium glutamate), found in many popular processed foods, is an example of sodium added to food. According to the American Heart Association, when you eat too much salt, which contains sodium, your body holds extra water to “wash” the salt from your body. In some people, this may cause blood pressure to rise.
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