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Food & diet

More salt for those with low blood pressure, but in moderation

January 1, 2018

The consumption of salt affects our blood pressure.

 

On one hand, hypertensive people can significantly lower the values of systolic (maximum) and diastolic (lowest) pressure with a careful use of salt, much less than 5 grams per day, which is the maximum limit to keep our body healthy.

 

On the other hand there are many people, especially those suffering from low pressure, who can approach their consumption to that limit, as Dr. Bruno Passaretti, cardiologist and head of the Rehabilitation Operational Unit at Humanitas Gavazzeni Bergamo explains.

 

Which people can consume salt slightly more than others?

“All those who suffer from low symptomatic pressure, which is the blood pressure that produces exhaustion and dizziness and in some circumstances can also lead to fainting. In these cases, the 5-gram limit may be approached, provided that it is not exceeded”.

 

The fact of being hypotensive does not give absolute freedom of salt consumption….

“No, salt beyond limits is never healthy for our body in general and cannot be considered a tool to solve a low pressure problem. As previously stated, consuming more salt can partly solve pressure problems; however, consuming a lot of salt puts you at risk for creating or exacerbating problems that affect the cardiovascular system.

 

In general, what should be the ratio between hypotensive people and salt supply?

“Hypotensive people simply have to salt the foods slightly more than normal, while avoiding those that are already very salty basic foods. It is better not to exaggerate with cured meat, cheeses and similar foods that have a little more salt, but that also contain many fats, which can harm our health if taken in excessive doses. At the limit, in order to naturally increase the pressure, hypotensive people can supplement the diet with a little licorice, which can beneficial for low blood pressure”.

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