A research presented at the Scientific Sessions 2010 of the American Heart Association revealed that consuming small amounts of salt per day as a teenager can help decrease high blood pressure.  Making use of an advanced computer modelling analysis, the researchers predicted the nationwide health benefits of reducing dietary salt present in processed foods that are being consumed by teenage girls and boys – specifically a reduction of 3 grams.

According to the researchers, adolescents consume large amounts of salt every day, approximately 3,900 mg, or greater than 9 grams.  Their salt consumption is greater than the consumption of people from other age groups, and way greater than the recommended dietary intake for sodium which is not greater than 1,500 milligrams each day.  This recommendation is for most Americans and is issued by the American Heart Association.

With the use of computer modelling, the researchers projected a 44 to 63 percent decline in the number of young adults and teenagers who have high blood pressure.  This means that, simply by reducing salt intake to 3 grams per day, 380,000 to 550,000 adolescents will no longer be considered as hypertensive.  For people between the ages 35 to 50, an estimated 30 to 43 percent decline (2.7 to 3.9 million) in the number of hypertensive is expected.

Dr. Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, Ph.D., the study’s lead author, said that lowering salt amounts already added in foods may translate to many more years of hypertension-free living for teenagers.  Furthermore, she said that another benefit of reducing salt consumption as early as the teenage years is that people can change their perception as to how food should taste, preferably to something that is less salty. Dr. Bibbins-Domingo is also an associate professor of medicine and epidemiology, and a co-director of the Center for Vulnerable Populations, of San Francisco’s University of California.

Reducing salt consumption to at least one gram each day brings about a resultant 0.8 mm Hg decrease in systolic blood pressure. Other health benefits of salt reduction to teenagers as soon as they reach the age of 50 would be a 7 to 12 percent reduction in the risk of coronary heart disease; 5 to 9 percent reduction in the risk of death due to any cause; a 5 to 8 percent reduction in the incidence of stroke; and an 8 to 14 percent reduction in the risk of heart attacks.

Approximately 80 percent of our salt consumption comes from eating commercially prepared or processed foods, and 35 percent of which comes from pastries, breads and in cereals.  According to Dr. Bibbins-Domingo, majority of the salt that people consume does not come from the salt shaker but are already present in the food being bought off the shelves. Popular hiding places of salt in ones diet are in condiments, canned foods and, as previously mentioned, cereals and breads.  The biggest culprit of all, and a major source of salt for teens, is pizza.  This is according to a data provided by the National Center for Health Statistics.

Refined vs. Unrefined Salt

There are two different types of salt that are available in the market nowadays:  Refined and unrefined.

Refined salt, or table salt, contains 97.5 percent sodium chloride and about 2.5 percent chemical additives, with anti-caking chemicals such as sodium aluminosilicate, alumina-calcium silicate, tricalcium phosphate, yellow prussiate of soda and ferrocyanide – all of which prevents water from mixing with salt, disrupting normal hydration process.  This type of salt is processed making use of high temperatures which alters the salt’s molecular structure and removes trace minerals that are supposedly good for the body.

Unrefined salt, or organic salt, contains 84 percent sodium chloride, 16 percent essential minerals such as magnesium and calcium plus 92 important trace minerals which help promote optimal biological function and maintenance of cells.  Here are some minerals found in organic salt and what they do to the body:

• Sodium:  It is important in the process of metabolism and digestion.  It also helps regulate muscular and nerve functions as well as body fluids.
• Calcium:  This is important for the mineralization of bones.
• Magnesium:  It dissolves sodium excess, helps in the maintenance of healthy bones, promotes mental development, helps dissolve kidney stones and slows the aging process.
• Phosphorus:  This is important for the synthesis of biochemicals and helps enhance the functions of nerve cells in the brain.
• Iodine:  Essential for mental development and energy production.  It also enhances the function of the lymphatic system.

The benefits of using organic salt far outnumber what one may get from using refined salt.  Too much refined salt increases one’s appetite and affects bone density, but not in a good way.  So it is important to avoid refined, table salt as much as possible.

Health Benefits of Organic, Unrefined Sea Salt

The benefits of using organic, unrefined sea salt should not be over-shadowed by making generalizations of the ill-effects of salt as a whole.  As stated above, there is a difference between refined and unrefined salt, and the body’s response to each type varies as well.

Here are some reasons why you should make the choice to go for organic salt:

• Organic salt does not contain chemical additives that have been proven to cause harm to the body. For example, refined salt contains aluminium which is dangerous to the nervous system as it has been associated with the increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
• Organic salt is important in the maintenance of strong, healthy bones.  It helps prevent conditions such as Osteoporosis.
• Organic salt helps in enhancing the digestive process by promoting absorption of food particles.
• Organic salt helps maintain regular heartbeat because of its blood pressure-regulating ability.
• Organic salt can help ward off cancer by removing the excess acidity present in some cells of the body.
• People diagnosed with diabetes can greatly benefit from using organic salt since it helps maintain the balance of blood sugar levels inside the body.
• For people whose nasal passages and lungs are congested, organic salt helps clear phlegm, mucus and congested sinuses.
• Organic salt is an effective antihistamine
• It reduces the incidence of muscle cramps, and helps in the prevention of gout and arthritis.

Sources
naturalorganiclifestyle.com
alkalizeforhealth.net
livestrong.com
newsroom.heart.org