Reduce Salt to Cut Heart Disease

It is found that reducing salt in your diet can dramatically reduce the risk of heart disease. Just reducing salt intake by 1 gram everyday would cause 25,000 less cases of heart disease and 200,000 less deaths in the United States in a decade. A study showed that when people lowered their sodium intake by 25% to 30%, they had a 25% reduction in heart disease and stroke risk 10 years later when compared to people who ate their usual diet. It is recommended to eat less than 2,300mg of salt per day and it is recommended that middle-aged and older adults and people with high blood pressure have less than 1,500mg of salt each day in their diet.

Lower Blood Pressure with Potassium

It is found that eating potassium rich foods, such as bananas, baked potatoes, tomato paste, lima beans, yogurt, fish, citrus fruits, leafy green vegetables, and cantaloupe, can lower blood pressure levels by speeding up the body's sodium excretion. Potassium is also important because it is a mineral that helps the kidneys to function correctly. Depending on what medications you are taking, potassium supplements can also be used to lower blood pressure.