Studies have shown that transitioning to a low-sodium diet can lead to small yet significant changes in blood pressure, especially in people with elevated levels.
A review of 34 studies demonstrated that a modest reduction in salt intake for four or more weeks led to significant reductions in blood pressure in people with both high and normal levels
In the participants with high blood pressure, the average reduction in systolic and diastolic blood pressure was 5.39 mmHg and 2.82 mmHg, respectively.
By comparison, people with normal levels noticed a 2.42 mmHg reduction in systolic blood pressure (the top number of a reading) and 1.00 mmHg reduction in diastolic blood pressure
High-salt diets have been linked to certain types of cancers, including of the stomach.
A review of 76 studies in more than 6,300,000 people found that for every five-gram increase of dietary salt per day — from high-salt processed foods — the risk of stomach cancer increased by 12%
Research has shown that high-salt diets can damage the mucosal lining of your stomach and increase inflammation and the growth of H. Pylori bacteria — all of which may raise stomach cancer risk
On the other hand, a diet low in high-sodium processed foods and rich in fruits and vegetables is associated with a lower risk of stomach cancer
Many unhealthy foods are extremely high in sodium.Fast food, packaged items & frozen meals are not only loaded with salt but also tend to be high in unhealthy fats & calories.
Frequent consumption of these foods has been linked to health conditions such as obesity, diabetes and heart disease
On a low-sodium diet, these high-salt foods are off limits, which may improve your overall diet quality.