Elijovich tells his patients to try cooking with flavorful spices, which can make them miss the taste of salt less. But he emphasized that home cooking and a sprinkling of salt at dinner are not the main culprits.
“The majority of our salt intake is not in what we do,” he said. “It’s in what we buy.”
Whatever you do, it could make a difference. Earlier this year, an analysis of 85 studies published in the journal Circulation showed any reduction in sodium decreases blood pressure.
Anyone with high blood pressure needs to pay extra attention to salt. But everyone should know what it does, Laffer said. “That’s my message to everyone that comes to my clinic. Even if it’s a young fit person who’s not overweight, I tell them – even for you, it’s worth being careful with salt.”
American Heart Association News covers heart and brain health. Not all views expressed in this story reflect the official position of the American Heart Association. Copyright is owned or held by the American Heart Association, Inc., and all rights are reserved. If you have questions or comments about this story, please email [email protected].
By Michael Merschel
