Cutting down salt intake reduces heart risk, or not? The more the researchers try to unriddle this mystery the more complicate it becomes. The reason behind this growing complicacy is the fact that where some studies have linked reduced salt consumption to reduced cardiovascular risks, while some studies have come out refuting such claims.
Adding to the complicacy further, this time researchers have come out promulgating that reduction in salt intake may lead to reduction in heart risks. The credit to bring out these findings goes to a team of US researchers led by Nancy Cook, of Harvard Medical School, which has followed up two trials originally conducted in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Throwing more light on the findings of this study team stated:
Our study provides unique evidence that sodium reduction might prevent cardiovascular disease and should dispel any residual concern that sodium reduction might be harmful.
Positive side:
If we look at the findings of this study sanguinely then we could say that if people give room to some changes in their eating habits, by reducing salt consumption then they may have the edge against cardiovascular risks. Because high consumption of salt is known to increase blood pressure, level that ultimately give way to heart related diseases. Therefore, people seeking protection against heart diseases may have that by reducing their consumption of salt.
Negative side:
Pondering over the findings of this study by keeping in view the harsh reality, we could say that people are intentionally increasing their susceptibility to heart risks, as there has been noted a perpetual increase in salt consumption, no matter, it is in the form of food, fast food or some other way. According to an estimate, in the UK alone around 50,000 people die just in a year from stroke and around 238,000 from heart diseases. So, keeping in mind this study, it could be said that restriction in salt consumption may perhaps help bringing down these numbers amazingly.
Moreover, there are several other studies, which have shown that higher consumption of salt affects our health, in someway of another. Therefore, the decision of reducing salt intake sounds comparatively better.
Via: BBC