To Be Healthy - Avoid Semi-finished Products

Author: Leticia Celentano Time for reading: ~2 minutes Last Updated: August 08, 2022

To Be Healthy - Avoid Semi-finished Products

A diet high in salt and saturated fat and low in fiber increases the risk of hypertension, stroke and cardiovascular disease.

Experts from the World Cancer Research Foundation warn that eating processed foods, instant soups, packaged and frozen foods can cause serious health problems. One serving of semi-finished soup, for example, contains more than half the daily norm of salt.

Doctors are adamant that the typical American diet, which contains too much salt and saturated fat and is low in fiber, increases the risk of hypertension, stroke and cardiovascular disease.

Recent statistical studies show that Bulgarians consume two to three times more salt than necessary. Nutritionists explain that the daily salt intake for an adult should be no more than 3 to 5 grams, and for children - 2-3 grams for 24 hours.

By reducing salt consumption by 12-15%, the risk of heart attack and stroke is significantly reduced.

As early as the early 1900s, the link between hypertension and sodium chloride was established - the most common form of salt in food. Salt restriction has been shown in patients with renal insufficiency and severe hypertension to reduce their blood pressure and improve kidney function.

It is recommended that people limit their sodium intake to 2,300 milligrams (mg) per day, but most usually consume 1 to 3 times more, or 7,200 mg per day. This fact, combined with the high prevalence of hypertension, leads to the conclusion that salt is the main cause of hypertension.

Almost 50% of people who have hypertension are sensitive to salt. Consuming too much sodium dramatically raises blood pressure and puts them at risk for complications. In addition, people with diabetes and obesity, as well as the elderly, appear to be more sensitive to the effects of salt than the general population. However, the question is whether high salt consumption also puts generally healthy people at risk of hypertension. Regardless of whether high salt intake raises blood pressure, it does not interfere with lowering it with antihypertensive drugs.

Fat cells also fill with water, increasing in weight and size. Too much sodium causes the body to eliminate potassium, which increases the work of the kidneys and overloads them functionally. Our food contains enough sodium in its natural state to add extra. We are, in fact, much more at risk of excess than of sodium deficiency.

Salt can be successfully replaced by some spices such as black pepper, aromatic herbs and soy sauce in moderate doses. Soy sauce contains less sodium than salt, and its strong taste allows it to be used in minimal quantities. There are many varieties with "medium" or "low" sodium content. Some nutritionists suggest that the content of the product be written on the product labels, as well as the recommended daily intake.

To Be Healthy - Avoid Semi-finished Products

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