Salt Reduction: More Proof It's Good For You

It's no secret that reducing salt intake lowers blood pressure and helps control hypertension. Since those are leading risk factors for heart disease, salt reduction should lead to a healthier heart -- right?

Surprisingly, that connection hasn't been established -- until now.

Now new research reported in the British Medical Journal shows that a permanent cut in salt intake results in a long term reduction in cardiovascular disease and death. Middle-aged people who cut their sodium intake by 25% - 35% had 25% fewer heart problems than a control group over a ten to fifteen year period.

The researchers write that the study "... provides some of the strongest objective evidence to date that lowering sodium intake, even among those without hypertension, reduces the risk of future cardiovascular disease."

The American Heart Association says that healthy people should keep salt intake below 2,300 mg / day -- about one tablespoon. That may be difficult -- even without adding salt to one's food, many processed and fast foods are laden with the mineral. According to the American Medical Association, the typical American consumes two to three times the recommended daily amount of sodium, and 75% or more of daily sodium intake comes from food prepared outside the home.

The primary connection between salt and the cardiovascular system is due to water's affinity for salt. Too-high levels of salt in the bloodstream attract water from elsewhere in the body. That means the body's total volume of blood increases, which causes the heart to work harder, which increases blood pressure.

There may be other mechanisms at work as well, but they are not as well understood.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S.

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H/t: Washington Post's digest of new health research