Formulating with Less Salt

DIET and lifestyle play an important role in managing blood pressure. High intakes of sodium and low intakes of potassium have unfavourable effects on blood pressure. Therefore, reducing the consumption of sodium and increasing the consumption of potassium are both good ways to improve blood pressure.

Sodium attracts water into your cells; the increased fluid raises your blood pressure and subsequently raises your risk of stroke and heart attack, heart failure and death.

In Western countries, for instance, only 20-30 per cent of the population has ‘optimal’ blood pressure, with the systolic (maximum) pressure being lower than 120 mm Hg and the diastolic (minimum) pressure lower than 80 mm Hg. Blood pressure increases with age in most people. Men more often have a higher blood pressure than women.

In 2010, a study¹ carried out by food researchers from the Human Nutrition department at Wageningen University and from the Nutrition & Health department at Unilever demonstrates that the average potassium intake in 21 countries including the US, China, New Zealand, Germany and the Netherlands varies between 1.7 and 3.7 g a day. This is considerably lower than the 4.7 g a day, which has been recommended based on the positive health effects observed at this level of intake.

Healthier options

A new report from The George Institute for Global Health shows that dietary salt could be cut by 5 grams a day by switching to healthier foods. “Excess salt in our diet greatly increases our risk of suffering from high blood pressure and stroke” says Professor Bruce Neal, senior director at The George InstAIr Jordan Outdoor Basketball Shoes