Stay In The Driver's Seat For A Healthy Diet
By Tom Herrin
A lot of times, people make the mistake of selling themselves short when it comes to making decisions about their diet that affects their health. Obtaining a little basic knowledge can be a springboard for people to build a healthy diet. Knowing what to add and what to avoid can mean the difference between success and failure in planning a good diet. Much like anything else they want to succeed in, planning is a foundation for success. Monitoring the amount of sodium in the diet can help avoid some major health problems. Taking action can be the driving force for reaching the goal.
Some Diseases Seem to Be Impacted By Sodium
There have been strong indications that people who take in large amounts of salt, of which sodium is a part, may have an increased risk of developing stomach cancer. An even more common disease that may be related to sodium levels is osteoporosis. It appears that when people have higher levels of sodium in their blood, it causes calcium to be lost. When this happens, the body will try to replace it in the blood by withdrawing it from the bones. This can lower the bone density, which can be a serious situation.
Blood Pressure Is Likely Affected
When people have high levels of sodium, their body tries to take on more water in order to balance it. This places more work on the kidneys and heart as they try to move and process all of the extra fluid. Studies have shown that when groups of people have higher sodium intakes, they have higher blood pressure. When they have lower levels of sodium, their blood pressures are lower. This correlation is pretty consistent in all of the information available. In China, high blood pressure is the leading cause of preventable death.
There Are Some Good Things You Can Eat
Not everything you eat a lot of is bad. Higher levels of potassium can do several things that help the body. It can lower the amount of sodium in the blood. It can also relax the blood vessels. These can both lower blood pressure. Higher levels of potassium can be found in fresh fruits and vegetables. If you want to be in the driver's seat for a healthy diet, start by looking for ways to reduce your sodium consumption and increase your potassium.
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in West Valley City, Utah.