Category Archives: Diet And Food

"Contrary to popular belief, increased consumption of dietary fats is associated with a lower risk of death."

PIC: Health authorities in Europe and North America recommend eating more fruits and vegetables. (Credit: Umar Nsubuga)

HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

Widely promoted guidelines to reduce fat intake could be unhealthy for people in low- and middle-income countries whose diets are already too starchy, researchers have said.

Health authorities in Europe and North America recommend eating more fruits and vegetables while curtailing consumption of fatty foods, advice also adopted by the United Nations and globally.

But people in poor nations cutting back on fat may wind up piling on more carbohydrates -- such as potatoes, rice or bread -- because fruits and vegetable are more expensive, the authors point out.

"The current focus on promoting low-fat diets ignores the fact that most people's diets in low- and middle-income countries are very high in carbohydrates, which seem to be linked to worse health outcomes," said Mahshid Dehghan, a researcher at McMaster University in Ontario, Canada and lead author of a study in The Lancet.

Meanwhile, a companion study, also published in The Lancet, concludes that the rich-world guidelines -- backed by the World Health Organization (WHO) -- on fruit and vegetable consumption could be safely cut back from five to a more affordable three portions per day.

Dehghan and colleagues sifted through the health data of 135,000 volunteers from 18 countries across six continents, aged 35-70, who were monitored for a seven-and-half years.

People who met three-quarters or more of their daily energy needs with carbs were 28 percent more likely to die over that period that those who ate fewer starchy foods (46 percent or less of energy needs).

Surprisingly, the findings also challenged assumptions on fat intake: diets high in fat (35 percent of energy) were linked with a 23 percent lower risk of death compared to low-fat diets (11 percent of energy).

"Contrary to popular belief, increased consumption of dietary fats is associated with a lower risk of death," Dehghan told AFP.

Regional imbalances

That covered a mix of saturated fats (from meats and milk products), along with monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats (from vegetable oils, olive oil, nuts and fish), she added.

The study did not look at so-called "trans fats" from processed foods because "the evidence is clear that these are unhealthy," Dehghan said.

The best diets include a balance of 50-55 percent carbohydrates and around 35 percent total fat, according to the authors, who presented their findings at the European Society of Cardiology Congress in Barcelona.

Current global guidelines -- based mostly on studies done in Europe and the United States -- recommend that 50-65 percent of one's calories come from carbs, and less than 10 percent from saturated fats.

Overall, the study found that average diet consists of just over 61 percent carbohydrates, 23.5 percent "good" fat, and 15 percent protein.

But these averages hid important regional imbalances: In China, South Asia and Africa, intake of starchy foods was 67, 65 and 63 percent, respectively.

A quarter of the 135,000 subjects -- mostly in poorer nations -- derived more than 70 percent of their daily calories from carbohydrates, while half had less than seven percent saturated fats in their diet.

The findings "challenge conventional diet-disease tenets" largely based on the lifestyles of Europeans and Americans, Christopher Ramsden and Anthony Domenichiello commented, also in The Lancet.

Dehghan and colleagues set out to look for links between diet and cardiovascular disease, which kills some 17 million people around the world each year -- 80 percent of them in low- and middle-income countries.

Many factors contribute to these diseases but diet is one of the few that can be modified to lessen risk.

But while high-carb and low-fat diets were clearly associated with greater mortality, no statistical link was found with the kind of life threatening events -- strokes, heart attacks, and other forms of heart failure -- that stem from cardiovascular disease.

"Most of the current debate about diet and health has focused on cardiovascular mortality," noted Susan Jebb, a professor at the University of Oxford who did not take part in the study.

The reported link between high-carb diets and excess mortality "was from non-cardiovascular deaths and is unexplained," she said.

See more here:
Diet guidelines 'biased against poor nations' - New Vision

Oh, and crash diets that promise you'll lose 30 pounds in 30 days don't workdrastically slashing calories can sabotage your efforts, ultimately stalling weight loss. "Your metabolism is going to slow down because it's not getting the fuel it needs to burn calories efficiently," says Lippert, who warns women not to go below 1,200 calories a day. Science agrees: Research shows that calorie-restriction plans often fail, with one-third to two-thirds of dieters regaining more weight than they lost on their diets.

You know what else fails? Calorie counting. Sure, it can ultimately whittle your waist1 pound of weight is equivalent to 3,500 calories, so skimming 500 calories a day means about a pound a weekbut number-crunching every meal is tedious and time-consuming and can take the joy out of eating. "If you get wrapped up in the numbers, it's very hard to sustain long-term changes," says Lippert. "Focus on eating whole foods instead and the calories will fall into place as they should."

Little Changes Really Do Add Up"Small steps are the key to changing your eating habits," says Lippert. "If you do something that's extreme, it's tough to feel motivated to keep doing it." And there's plenty of research to back it up, with studies showing that those who make small diet changeslose more weight and are more likely to keep it off than those on traditional diets. "Everyone is different, but focusing on three to five specific goals allows you to hone and solidify them to ensure lasting habit change," adds Lippert.

On that note, here are the simple tweaks your diet needs for slow, steady, and lasting weight loss.

1. If you cut out your daily soda habit, you'll lose 1 pound in a month.One 12-ounce can of soda has 140 calories and a whopping 39 grams (15 teaspoons) of sugar.CALORIES SAVED IN A MONTH: 4,200 calories

MORE: 8 Things That Happen When You Stop Drinking Diet Soda

2. If you replace a glass of orange juice with an orange, you'll lose a half a pound in a month. Swapping the juice for whole fruit saves you 48 calories per day.CALORIES SAVED IN A MONTH: 1,440 calories

3. If you skip your weekly ice cream binge, you'll lose 1 pound in a month. Polishing off a pint of Ben & Jerry's Chunky Monkey is 1,200 calories a pop.CALORIES SAVED IN A MONTH: 4,800 calories

4. If you skip the whipped cream on your Starbucks beverage, you'll lose 1 pound in a month. A Starbucks Grande Mocha Frappuccino is 280 calories, but add the whipped cream and it shoots up to 390 calories. (Maybe reconsider that Starbucks coconut milk latte, too.)CALORIES SAVED IN A MONTH: 3,300 calories

5. If you cut back from two glasses of wine to one, you'll lose 1 pound in a month. You can still have your vino, just cap your Cab at one glass per day.CALORIES SAVED IN A MONTH: 3,660 calories a month

MORE: 6 Sneaky Signs You Drink Too Much

6. If you go meatless for dinner on Monday, you'll lose a half a pound in a month. Swapping your usual steak and potatoes for a hefty Grilled Vegetable Stack sandwich saves you 423 calories. (Try these 5 delicious meatless meals.)CALORIES SAVED IN A MONTH: 1,692 calories

7. If you skip the bread basket, you'll lose half a pound in a month. Even just indulging once a week when you're out to dinner can add up (three breadsticks = 420 calories).CALORIES SAVED IN A MONTH: 1,680 calories

8. If you downsize your salad dressing, you'll lose 1 pound in a month. Yes to a daily salad, just trim the olive oil from 2 tablespoons to 1 tablespoon and you'll cut 120 calories per day.CALORIES SAVED IN A MONTH: 3,600 calories

9. If you don't get everything on your burrito, you'll lose 1 1/2 pounds in a month. Adding sour cream, cheese, and guac adds an extra 1,230 calories per burrito.CALORIES SAVED IN A MONTH: 4,920 calories

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The Most Weight You Can Safely Lose In A Month By Only ...

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Disulfiram antabuse mechanism of action - Anti drug abuse act of 1986 - Forward Florida

Often spending their days hunched over phones, tablets or computers and their free time at spin class or playing sports, millennials are the next generation poised to experience chronic pain. Even at their young age, millennials say acute and chronic pain are already interfering with their quality of life.

Their preferred method to manage pain? Lifestyle changes such as exercising, eating right, quitting smoking and losing weight, according to a nationwide survey commissioned by the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) in conjunction with September's Pain Awareness Month. (Click here to download infographic.)

The survey also found millennials were half as likely as baby boomers to have turned to opioids to manage pain, and 1 in 5 millennials regret that they used the highly addictive painkillers.

But while the results reflect a positive trend, they also reveal a knowledge gap. The survey found many millennials were:

"It's encouraging that millennials see the value of opting for safer and often more effective methods of managing pain," said ASA President Jeffrey Plagenhoef, M.D. "But clearly they are in need of further education when it comes to opioids and chronic pain because using the drugs initially to treat pain can turn into a lifelong struggle with addiction."

Learning how to manage pain safely and effectively is vital: 75 percent of millennials say they have had acute pain (which comes on suddenly and lasts less than three months) and nearly 60 percent have experienced chronic pain (which lasts longer than three months). The source of that pain is reflective of millennials' lifestyle, including technology use (leading to eye strain, neck aches, hand or finger pain, wrist or arm pain), migraines and sports injuries.

According to the survey, millennials (ages 18-36) and members of Generation X (ages 37-52) are most likely to report pain interfered with their work responsibilities, parenting abilities and participation in family activities.

It's important to address pain before it interferes with quality of life by seeing the right specialist for pain management. Whatever the age, people in severe pain who don't find relief through lifestyle changes should see a physician who specializes in pain management, such as a physician anesthesiologist. These specialists have received four years of medical school and additional training in a medical specialty, followed by an additional year of training to become an expert in treating pain. They have the expertise to best help you manage your pain.

But engaging in lifestyle changes before chronic pain can gain a further foothold is preferable. When possible, prevention is best. "Chronic pain does not have to be an automatic response to aging," said Dr. Plagenhoef. "Healthy lifestyle changes such as exercising, proper nutrition and maintaining a healthy weight can keep millennials from dealing with some of the chronic pain their parents and grandparents are experiencing."

To help all generations effectively manage their pain, ASA offers the following tips:

The 10-question ORC International CARAVAN Omnibus Survey was conducted online August 7-9, 2017 among 1,011 U.S. adults 18 years or older: 34 percent were millennials, 25 percent were Gen Xers, 35 percent were baby boomers (ages 53-71) and 6 percent were from the silent generation (ages 72-92). The demographically representative sample included 504 men and 507 women.

Explore further: Americans favor treatment, not enforcement, to address opioid crisis

Provided by: American Society of Anesthesiologists

Continue reading here:
Millennials prefer healthy habits, less likely to choose opioids to manage pain - Medical Xpress

Arguably the most important part of the Minnesota State Fair is the food. According to the Official State Fair Guide, there are more than 500 menu items with an additional 150 local craft brews and 25 Minnesota wines. Most of these items are high fat, high sugar, high sodium foods that are put on a stack and deep-fried. There are ways to attend the fair healthfully (well, relatively healthfully).

Indulge in special items. Yes, you read that right. There are certain items that only are available at the State Fair, and you should allow yourself to have those items. That means be mindful and don't waste calories on ordinary foods you can get any time of the year. Make the foods you most want to eat a priority and a special event.

Bring a large group of family and friends and share with. Keep in mind the law of diminishing returns: Often the more you eat of something the less pleasure you get from it. Your first and second bite are often the most enjoyable. If you're sharing food with others, it may help to limit portions to a bite or two while still being able to try many different foods.

Beverages can contain calories, and those calories can add up quickly. Twelve ounces of State Fair lemonade or 12 ounces of soda contains is approximately 160 calories. Let's be honest, who gets a 12-ounce lemonade? The size is often 32 ounces or larger, and 32 ounces is approximately 425 calories. Beer and wine also contain significant calories, about 150 calories per serving. Water is a refreshing and calorie-free option. You're welcome to bring a water bottle into the fairgrounds, and there are many free water-filling stations. There is even a relax and recharge station, where you can get free water, charge your cellphone and pick up some coupons.

Think globally. There are many international food options that are grilled or contain fresh ingredients. Try some grilled kebabs, hummus, gyros and fajitas. There are many fruit options available throughout the fair. Stop by Minnesota Apples for fresh apples or frozen apple cider. The Produce Exchange offers a wide variety of fresh fruit options, and Bayou Bob's has frozen grapes to help you cool off on a hot day.

If you follow a specific diet, consider stopping by the Health Fair 11 exhibit which is staffed by many organizations including the Anaphylaxis and Food Allergy Association of Minnesota. They can help visitors safely navigate the fair.

Stay busy with nonfood related activities. Learn about where your food comes from by visiting grape, garlic and honey producers. Judge some crop art, ride some rides, climb the Department of Natural Resources fire tower or catch a concert.

Get out and enjoy the Great Minnesota Get-Together. Make the foods you eat special, avoid foods you're able to eat anytime; share with friends; and participate in all of the activities the fair has to offer, and you'll surely have a healthful and happy fair experience.

Read this article:
Nutrition: Tips to a healthful State Fair - Duluth News Tribune

Parents should not talk about wanting to lose weight in front of their teenage daughters, a London deputy headteacher has warned.

Children are already exposed to toxic messages about the importance of being very thin and parents must help counter this, according to Fionnuala Kennedy of Wimbledon High School.

She wrote to parents at the 18,000-a-year girls school after watching Netflix drama To The Bone, which has been criticised for glamorising anorexia.

Ms Kennedy, deputy head (pastoral) at the school, said she was horrified by the film and concerned that teenagers would watch it during the holidays, with time to dwell on it and discuss it on social media.

In a message to parents about how to deal with the pressure faced by girls, she wrote: Role model as effectively as you can. Its difficult to advocate a rounded, healthy diet for your teen if youve cut out carbs and dairy yourself, or frequently refer to your desire to lose weight.

Ms Kennedy told the Evening Standard: We are all a bit culpable its quite a middle-class thing talking about cutting out food groups and clean eating.

Teachers should also be careful about what they say in front of pupils. She said: As a teacher when you come back from holiday and speak to your colleagues, one of the first things middle-aged women will say to each other is, You look fantastic have you lost weight? Its ingrained in us as women, so we have to be really careful because these messages are picked up all the time.

We are all role models. Mothers, teachers, aunts you will be looked up to even if you dont realise it, and it is your job not to propagate the idea that thin is just better.

Ms Kennedy said she watched To The Bone, in which Lily Collins plays a 20-year-old with anorexia, to keep in step with her pupils and suggested parents should also try to watch the same films as their daughters, to help understand their world. But she called the film irresponsible and said Netflix had a duty not to glamorise mental health issues.

She added: To The Bone, with its emphasis on anorexia as an act of rebellion, as sexy even, only adds to the thin is cool/right/attractive argument.

Beat, the national eating disorder charity, has warned that the film is likely to be highly distressing or triggering for people with eating disorders. It contains frequent references to calories, weight and eating disorder behaviours, as well as images of Collinss character Ellen at a very low weight.

The actress, 28, who has spoken about battling an eating disorder as a teenager, was required to lose weight for the film. She said she did so safely under supervision from a nutritionist, producers, the director and her own mother to avoid a relapse.

The films writer and director Marti Noxon said: Having struggled with anorexia and bulimia well into my twenties, I know first-hand the struggle, isolation and shame a person feels when they are in the grips of this illness.

"In an effort to tell this story as responsibly as we could, we spoke with other survivors and worked with Project Heal [a charity] throughout production in the hope of being truthful in a way that wasnt exploitive.

My goal was not to glamorise eating disorders, but to serve as a conversation starter about an issue that is too often clouded by secrecy and misconceptions.

"I hope that by casting a little light into the darkness we can achieve greater understanding and guide people to help if they need it."

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Don't talk about diets in front of your daughters, deputy head at top London school warns parents - Evening Standard

PARIS: Widely promoted guidelines to reduce fat intake could be unhealthy for people in low- and middle-income countries whose diets are already too starchy, researchers said Tuesday.

Health authorities in Europe and North America recommend eating more fruits and vegetables while curtailing consumption of fatty foods, advice also adopted by the United Nations and globally.

But people in poor nations cutting back on fat may wind up piling on more carbohydrates -- such as potatoes, rice or bread -- because fruits and vegetable are more expensive, the authors point out.

"The current focus on promoting low-fat diets ignores the fact that most peoples diets in low- and middle-income countries are very high in carbohydrates, which seem to be linked to worse health outcomes," said Mahshid Dehghan, a researcher at McMaster University in Ontario, Canada and lead author of a study in The Lancet.

Meanwhile, a companion study, also published in The Lancet, concludes that the rich-world guidelines -- backed by the World Health Organization (WHO) -- on fruit and vegetable consumption could be safely cut back from five to a more affordable three portions per day.

Dehghan and colleagues sifted through the health data of 135,000 volunteers from 18 countries across six continents, aged 35-70, who were monitored for a seven-and-half years.

People who met three-quarters or more of their daily energy needs with carbs were 28 percent more likely to die over that period that those who ate fewer starchy foods (46 percent or less of energy needs).

Surprisingly, the findings also challenged assumptions on fat intake: diets high in fat (35 percent of energy) were linked with a 23 percent lower risk of death compared to low-fat diets (11 percent of energy).

"Contrary to popular belief, increased consumption of dietary fats is associated with a lower risk of death," Dehghan told AFP.

Regional imbalances

That covered a mix of saturated fats (from meats and milk products), along with monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats (from vegetable oils, olive oil, nuts and fish), she added.

The study did not look at so-called "trans fats" from processed foods because "the evidence is clear that these are unhealthy," Dehghan said.

The best diets include a balance of 50-55 percent carbohydrates and around 35 percent total fat, according to the authors, who presented their findings at the European Society of Cardiology Congress in Barcelona.

Current global guidelines -- based mostly on studies done in Europe and the United States -- recommend that 50-65 percent of ones calories come from carbs, and less than 10 percent from saturated fats.

Overall, the study found that average diet consists of just over 61 percent carbohydrates, 23.5 percent "good" fat, and 15 percent protein.

But these averages hid important regional imbalances: In China, South Asia and Africa, intake of starchy foods was 67, 65 and 63 percent, respectively.

A quarter of the 135,000 subjects -- mostly in poorer nations -- derived more than 70 percent of their daily calories from carbohydrates, while half had less than seven percent saturated fats in their diet.

The findings "challenge conventional diet-disease tenets" largely based on the lifestyles of Europeans and Americans, Christopher Ramsden and Anthony Domenichiello commented, also in The Lancet.

Dehghan and colleagues set out to look for links between diet and cardiovascular disease, which kills some 17 million people around the world each year -- 80 percent of them in low- and middle-income countries.

Many factors contribute to these diseases but diet is one of the few that can be modified to lessen risk.

But while high-carb and low-fat diets were clearly associated with greater mortality, no statistical link was found with the kind of life threatening events -- strokes, heart attacks, and other forms of heart failure -- that stem from cardiovascular disease.

"Most of the current debate about diet and health has focused on cardiovascular mortality," noted Susan Jebb, a professor at the University of Oxford who did not take part in the study.

The reported link between high-carb diets and excess mortality "was from non-cardiovascular deaths and is unexplained," she said.

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Diet guidelines biased against poor nations: study - Geo News, Pakistan

In BriefHealth care startup Virta is proposing a new type of treatment for type 2 diabetes, which revolves around personalized nutrition and constant contact with a medical professional.

More than 29 million people suffer from diabetes in the United States alone. Now, a new healthcare startup called Virta claims that it can stamp out the condition for good and whats more, it plans to do so using little more than a sensible diet plan and a smartphone app.

Virta puts its patients on a nutrition plan that cuts out sugar and bad carbohydrates. To make sure that they can stick to this diet safely, theyre kept in constant contact with a trained physician, exchanging text messages and engaging in video calls as often as every day.

Each patients plan is highly individualized, with everything from their food intake, to their recommended activity levels, to their medication being tailored to their specific situation. Preliminary test have been very promising, with a recent trial of 262 people allowing 87 percent of participants to stop using insulin completely or at least reduce their dosage.

Virta founder Sami Inkinen had good reason to get into diabetes care. In 2007, he had just started competing in Ironman triathlon events, when he was told that he was pre-diabetic.Click to View Full Infographic

I started reading research and thats what kind of led me to meet my scientific co-founders, said Inkinen in a recent interview with Tech Crunch. The bottom line, what these guys had shown is that there is a way to nutritionally reverse type 2 diabetes without starving you to death. They had published all these papers. I was like this is nuts. This is 30 years-old science.

Diabetes has a huge impact on the lives of people affected, not least when theyre forced to administer their own insulin injections. Fortunately, researchers are finding ways to avoid this process, from CRISPR skin grafts to cell implants, to a smartphone app.

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Healthcare Startup Claims It Can Defeat Diabetes With Nutrition Alone - Futurism

Their efforts to take themselves in hand involved regular exercise, such as walking or cycling, rather than epic feats.

These men were just getting themselves together. They werent marathon runners, or anything like that.

So we can safely say that as a normal person you are able to improve your fitness by putting in the effort and that will protect you.

The group whose midlife fitness increased the most on average saw a 22 per cent improvement in exercise tests.

Their chances of having a stroke were almost the same as those of men who had been fit all their lives.

Dr Prestgaad said: "If you become fit or remain fit, there's no difference. That's a good message - if you're 50 and not fit over the next years you can become fit and lower your risk. It' s never too late to get fit.

But you can't let yourself go because you lose the protection that you had. If you're in good shape when you're 50 you can't just stop working out and float on what you have. You have to keep it up, he said.

Many people assumed that lifestyle changes were only likely in the young, but the study found that almost of half of the men had changed their habits over the seven years - becoming more or less active.

Their efforts to take themselves in hand involved regular exercise, such as walking or cycling, rather than epic feats.

These men were just getting themselves together. They werent marathon runners, or anything like that.

So we can safely say that as a normal person you are able to improve your fitness by putting in the effort and that will protect you.

The group whose midlife fitness increased the most on average saw a 22 per cent improvement in exercise tests.

Their chances of having a stroke were almost the same as those of men who had been fit all their lives.

Dr Prestgaad said: "If you become fit or remain fit, there's no difference. That's a good message - if you're 50 and not fit over the next years you can become fit and lower your risk. It' s never too late to get fit.

But you can't let yourself go because you lose the protection that you had. If you're in good shape when you're 50 you can't just stop working out and float on what you have. You have to keep it up, he said.

Many people assumed that lifestyle changes were only likely in the young, but the study found that almost of half of the men had changed their habits over the seven years - becoming more or less active.

More than 100,000 Brits have a stroke each year and it is one of the leading causes of adult disability.

There are over 1.2 million people living with the effects of the condition which costs the NHS around 3 billion a year.

Nine in 10 strokes are preventable, scientists believe, with the majority linked to lifestyle factors such as diet, obesity and fitness.

Read more from the original source:
Men who get fit in middle age can halve their risk of strokes - Telegraph.co.uk

A delicious meal after long hours at the office or continuous classes at school is what most people go for to reduce exhaustion in preparation for the rest of the tasks of the day. Good food is responsible for better mood and increased concentration.

In order for the meal to be good to the taste buds, a majority of the people prefer seasoned food over bland ones. Salt and spices add to the scrumptiousness. Any lesser amount of both can ruin whatever meal was supposed to taste like.Salt is used all over the world in seasoning and marinating meals to enhance tastes. In addition, it can be used on top of salads, raw fruits and veggies and even some drinks to transform a boring meal into something yummy. Some people even add and ask for extra salt for a stronger taste.The great amount of salt in the daily diets of people can be seen by looking at how almost every food requires it. From homemade meals to restaurant specials to beverages and processed, instant food salt is present in high quantities in each of these.In addition, even some desserts and conventionally sweet foods have salt in them. Salted biscuits and tea is a very popular combination. Salted pretzels are one of the most consumed street foods in the United States and Britain.Fried carnival food is usually marinated in heaps of salt, spices, and herbs before going into hot oil and even topped with raw salt when handed over to the person buying it. Salt on salt is not a very new concept.These foods, such as corn dogs or nachos are usually taken with one or more dips and sauces. Salted caramel is a classic dip used with all kinds of foods in breakfast, lunch, dinner and plain snacks. Sauces are taken with steaks, soups and even usual chips.Salt in all of the mentioned products is present in abundance. Salt, also known as Sodium Chloride constitutes a large portion of daily diets. For normal people with balanced diets, salt is not termed as harmful.However, the case can be different for people with other conditions. One in three Americans suffers from hypertension or what is called high blood pressure in common conversations. Sodium Chloride is one of the biggest contributors to high blood pressures.Studies have shown that a diet higher in salt can lead to more frequent spikes in blood pressure. This can potentially increase the risks of all high blood pressure related conditions such as cardiovascular diseases.Additionally, high blood pressure can harm other vital organs like kidneys, brain and in some cases even eyes.What does salt do to your vital organs?

Salt affects most of the major organs responsible for carrying on important processes in the body in a different way. Here are some of the ways salt can affect your body and health:

Renal health

The basic function of both of the kidneys in our body is to clean the blood and filter out any useless or excessive nutrient. Secondly, harmful substances are removed from your body safely through the procedure of excretion.In order to make this happen, a complicated procedure involving the drawing out of extra water from the blood is done by each of the kidneys. The process is also called Osmosis and is done through the membranes of cells.A concentration gradient of potassium and sodium is a prerequisite for this process to take place. The cellular membrane makes a channel between the kidney and blood stream for transfer of excess water present.Having a higher than normal amount of salt can cause difficulties for the kidneys to receive water from the cells as the concentration gradient and balance of sodium and potassium gets disturbed. Sodium from salt increases the amount of sodium in the body.There are two major effects in a situation such as described above. Firstly, the extra fluid and water in the blood start raising the blood pressure since there is no way to remove it.Secondly, the arteries carrying the blood to kidneys then experience a higher pressure on them due to the high flow of blood.If left for a long time, this condition can lead to damage of the kidneys ability to get rid of toxic substances from the body. These toxins then start piling up and accumulating in different parts of the body.While harmful substances are expected to cause damage to the entire body, high blood pressure from failed osmosis and pressure on arteries for too long can also completely make the kidneys useless. In other words, renal failure can be a result of high blood pressure due to too much salt in the diet of the person.

Heart and arteries

High blood pressure as a result of high sodium chloride intake puts excessive pressure on the walls of the arteries including the ones between vital organs such as the kidneys and the heart. The arteries then follow a defense mechanism that allows them to resist more than the usual pressure.With the passage of time, these affected arteries will become thicker and have more strength. Ultimately, they will be able to handle the strain of the pressure from the blood flow because of salted abundant diet. The arteries may be able to endure such a situation but this can cause another problem for the person.

Thicker arteries mean constriction. Less space for blood to flow will, in fact, add to the pressure. If this condition is left untreated over the course of years, the pressure of the blood becomes too much for the arteries to handle.The arteries can then become too constricted for blood to pass through. Clogging can also be commonly seen in such cases. Sometimes, the most dangerous condition of arteries bursting can happen as well since it can damage other organs and be proven fatal.The heart can be affected from the day arteries start constricting. Low levels of blood reaching the heart will initially not have that much of an effect but over the time, it can start causing unusual pains in the heart area. The occurrence of such pains is usually a sign of a potential angina attack.Lack of blood can also cause reduced performance of the cells present in the heart. Damaged arteries preventing blood flow disrupts the procedure of oxygenation of the blood. As a consequence, the entire blood in the body becomes under oxygenated with exhausted cells.The ultimate effect of the prolonged negligence of such conditions and continuance of high salt diet is a heart attack which is often the cause of death of the person.

Brain

The high blood pressure damages arteries to all organs, including the brain. Oxygen like the heart is also equally important for the brain to perform its functions. Low levels of oxygen can initially lead to vascular dementia.The result of negligence, in this case, is a stroke which is usually proven as fatal.What can you do?

If you are patient of hypertension or high blood pressure, cutting off on high sodium chloride food is a must. Start by checking the nutritional value information on products before buying them and use recipes that require less amount of salt in them. Keep in mind there are lots of other herbs and spices that can be used in place of salt.Processed foods usually have the highest amount of salt and are generally bad for health. Avoiding them mostly can help with your blood pressure and overall health. Always remember high salt intake also reduces the efficiency of medications.You cannot control your blood pressure if a change in diet is not made.

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How does a high-salt diet affect your body? - Reports Healthcare