Doctors often advise patients to reduce their salt intake, and there’s a reason for that. Some studies say it can help patients suffering from heart failure. However, recent studies have indicated that an overly strict no-salt diet may be counterproductive for these patients. Per studies emanating from a new meta-analysis that was presented at the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session —in collaboration with the World Congress of Cardiology— persons suffering from heart failure may not benefit from a strict intake of sodium below the recommended daily intake —which is about 2.3 grams per day —or one tablespoon of table salt.
Sodium is a crucial mineral that helps the body to regulate fluid in your bloodstream. Too much of this mineral may cause your blood vessels to take in more water than necessary. This causes your blood pressure to skyrocket, further putting you at risk of experiencing heart failure symptoms such as weight gain, bloating, swelling, and fluid buildup.
However, this recent discovery by experts will be presented later this month at the American College of Cardiology’s annual meeting, scheduled to hold in New Orleans. Dr. Anirudh Palicheria’s findings have highlighted that dietary sodium below the recommended intake is counterproductive, even for patients suffering from heart failure. This study assessed various sodium levels across 3,500 people with heart failure and combined data on death rates and hospitalization. These trials were conducted between 2008 and 2022.
The researchers discovered that patients suffering from heart failure that ingested less than the daily recommended amount were 80% more likely to die than those that followed the recommended diet. However, they plan to do additional research on the recommended dietary sodium intake. These additional studies highlight specific subgroups of heart failure patients who might benefit from more or less sodium intake.
How to Regulate Salt in Your Foods?
For those suffering from heart failure symptoms, it is pertinent to how much salt you ingest. This is done in various ways, including:
● Eating Low-Sodium Foods: You can always enjoy a low-sodium diet that helps your body attain the regulated sodium intake. These include fruits and vegetables. You should also avoid high-processed meats and foods. Finally, eating home-cooked beans will help you to regulate the amount of salt within the body.
● Cut back on alcohol: Excessive intake of alcohol is not healthy for anyone. Therefore, drinking alcohol should be done in moderation, as it may worsen your heart rate, increasing your risk of heart failure.
