Americans With High Blood Pressure Still Eating Too Much Salt

[rangerrebew]

Americans With High Blood Pressure Still Eating Too Much Salt
Average sodium intake more than double the recommended daily limit for these patients, study finds
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Wednesday, March 8, 2017
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WEDNESDAY, March 8, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- For Americans with high blood pressure, cutting back on salt is an important way to help keep the condition under control. Yet, new research shows that these patients are getting more salt in their diet than they did in 1999.

Between 1999 and 2012, salt (sodium) consumption rose from about 2,900 milligrams a day (mg/day) to 3,350 mg/day. That's more than double the ideal upper limit of 1,500 mg/day of sodium recommended by the American Heart Association for people with high blood pressure (or "hypertension").

https://medlineplus.gov/news/fullstory_163977.html

[EC]

Intriguing. My first question would be - why the change?

[GtHawk]

Intriguing. My first question would be - why the change?

Not sure, But I would guess that the proliferation and consumption of energy drinks may play a part. Us old timers got our caffeine the old fashioned way, from coffee, but there are so many young people and teens that consume energy drinks that are loaded with all sorts of stuff including  a high sodium content.

[Free Vulcan]

Salt doesn't give you long term high blood pressure.

Carbs do, junk carbs especially.

[DB]

Cheap low protein food needs a lot of salt to give it flavor.

I think dietary science has a long ways to go.

[Cripplecreek]

Salt doesn't give you long term high blood pressure.

Carbs do, junk carbs especially.

I eat pretty much what I want including more salt than I need but I actually eat pretty decent overall. Last night it was homemade egg McMuffins and broccoli.

I had my blood pressure checked just last week at the dentist's office. It was 137 over 82 which isn't bad for a 52 year old.

[DB]

I eat pretty much what I want including more salt than I need but I actually eat pretty decent overall. Last night it was homemade egg McMuffins and broccoli.

I had my blood pressure checked just last week at the dentist's office. It was 137 over 82 which isn't bad for a 52 year old.

That actually isn't that great. At 90 for the lower number you will be asked to take medication to lower your blood pressure. I was 52 with slightly lower blood pressure (high 120's over high 70's) and a total cholesterol of about 150 when I had a heart attack...

Something interesting is I started drinking 8 oz Pomegranate juice a day and my blood pressure has gone to around the mid 110's over high 60's. That's not an insignificant change.

[Cripplecreek]

That actually isn't that great. At 90 for the lower number you will be asked to take medication to lower your blood pressure. I was 52 with slightly lower blood pressure (high 120's over high 70's) and a total cholesterol of about 150 when I had a heart attack...

Something interesting is I started drinking 8 oz Pomegranate juice a day and my blood pressure has gone to around the mid 110's over high 60's. That's not an insignificant change.

Yet the actual doctors I've seen over the past 6 months have all said it was a touch high but nothing to be concerned about.

[DB]

Yet the actual doctors I've seen over the past 6 months have all said it was a touch high but nothing to be concerned about.

That may well be true. Just telling you my experience. 90 is the the threshold for treatment. You should get your own blood pressure monitor and check it from time to time as it varies throughout the day. Some peoples pressure goes up just going to the doctor so what they measure in the office may not be very accurate for that person...

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

That actually isn't that great. At 90 for the lower number you will be asked to take medication to lower your blood pressure. I was 52 with slightly lower blood pressure (high 120's over high 70's) and a total cholesterol of about 150 when I had a heart attack...

Something interesting is I started drinking 8 oz Pomegranate juice a day and my blood pressure has gone to around the mid 110's over high 60's. That's not an insignificant change.

Is the juice sugary? Sugar is a huge trigger for me.


I think a lot of this stuff is genetic.

[DB]

Is the juice sugary? Sugar is a huge trigger for me.


I think a lot of this stuff is genetic.

Pomegranate does have a lot of natural sugar (I only buy 100% pomegranate juice with no added anything), but I will say this: If I eat a single Oreo cookie I can feel the sugar rush. I don't feel the sugar rush at all with pure pomegranate juice. So there's something different on how the sugar is metabolized. If your interested I would simply give it a go and see how it affects you.

I'll add, it doesn't taste very sweet. The taste is intense and is something you typically sip - but I like it.

[Cripplecreek]

That may well be true. Just telling you my experience. 90 is the the threshold for treatment. You should get your own blood pressure monitor and check it from time to time as it varies throughout the day. Some peoples pressure goes up just going to the doctor so what they measure in the office may not be very accurate for that person...

They're getting a pretty good tracking sample on me over the past 6 months. My doctor and my Ophthalmologist are both in the same building as part of University of Michigan health care system. They check my blood pressure every time I walk into the building which is about 3 times in the past 6 months. About a month ago I went to Hillsdale Hospital emergency room on a Sunday evening for pain killers and antibiotic due to an abscessed tooth (that was my highest BP reading probably due to the infection and stress of being in pain) Then I got another BP reading 11 days later at the dentist's office then again last Friday when I had 2 teeth pulled. I'll be getting checked again Tuesday when I go back to the dentist. I have another appointment with the Ophthalmologist in April so he'll get me again there.

[Silver Pines]

Pomegranate does have a lot of natural sugar (I only buy 100% pomegranate juice with no added anything), but I will say this: If I eat a single Oreo cookie I can feel the sugar rush. I don't feel the sugar rush at all with pure pomegranate juice. So there's something different on how the sugar is metabolized. If your interested I would simply give it a go and see how it affects you.

I'll add, it doesn't taste very sweet. The taste is intense and is something you typically sip - but I like it.

@DB

Read up about fructose (fruit sugar).  It's really no better for you than white table sugar, especially when it's in concentrated form, like juice.

[Cripplecreek]

@DB

Read up about fructose (fruit sugar).  It's really no better for you than white table sugar, especially when it's in concentrated form, like juice.

I eat a lot of fruit. Primarily apples, oranges and grapes. I occasional buy a bunch of bananas. I also eat a lot of wild fruit during the summer. Raspberries, Blackberries, grapes and pin cherries are everywhere around here The grapes are sour and mostly seed but I eat them and spit out the seeds anyway. The pin cherries are black and sweet but also mostly pit.

[DB]

@DB

Read up about fructose (fruit sugar).  It's really no better for you than white table sugar, especially when it's in concentrated form, like juice.

Everything has its trade-offs. The benefits of pomegranate far exceed the added sugar for me. And my experience is what it is, for whatever reason.

[Silver Pines]

I eat a lot of fruit. Primarily apples, oranges and grapes. I occasional buy a bunch of bananas. I also eat a lot of wild fruit during the summer. Raspberries, Blackberries, grapes and pin cherries are everywhere around here The grapes are sour and mostly seed but I eat them and spit out the seeds anyway. The pin cherries are black and sweet but also mostly pit.

@Cripplecreek

From what I've been reading, the fruit itself is okay.  It's just the juice that is so concentrated and carb heavy.

[Cripplecreek]

@Cripplecreek

From what I've been reading, the fruit itself is okay.  It's just the juice that is so concentrated and carb heavy.

The only fruit juice I ever drink is grapefruit juice.

[Silver Pines]

Everything has its trade-offs. The benefits of pomegranate far exceed the added sugar for me. And my experience is what it is, for whatever reason.

@DB

Yep, I agree.  We all have our circumstances and experiences we know to be valid.

[Silver Pines]

The only fruit juice I ever drink is grapefruit juice.

@Cripplecreek

I love that stuff.  So did my father.  My mom couldn't stand it.  Sour is good, lol.

[BigHomer]

Salt doesn't give you long term high blood pressure.

Carbs do, junk carbs especially.

Bingo!!

[Cripplecreek]

@Cripplecreek

I love that stuff.  So did my father.  My mom couldn't stand it.  Sour is good, lol.

Yup unsweetened only.