Sodium is a nutrient that our bodies need, but if consumed in access, it is harmful. The overabundance of sodium surprisingly does not come from your table’s salt shaker. The majority is consumed from fast foods and processed foods. So, with our culture of “eating on the run”, you can see how easily sodium amounts can add up throughout the day and can result in heart disease.

Why is sodium bad for you? Sodium holds extra fluid in the cells of your body, which increases the volume of blood flowing through your system. Your cardiovascular system has to work harder to pump blood throughout your body which leads to high blood pressure. The increase in pressure against your arterial walls is very dangerous and will cause vascular weakness, blood clots, plaque build-up, organ and tissue damage. Known as a “silent killer” because it is not easily detected, high blood pressure is the culprit in cardiovascular disease.

It has been found that around 77% of the sodium that we consume is from restaurant foods, prepackaged, and processed foods. The good news is that you can choose to reduce or completely eliminate these types of foods in your diet. The rest of the sodium intake comes from cooking and adding salt to your meals.

There are some people who are more sensitive to higher levels of salt such as those with kidney disease, diabetes, and people over the age of 50. If you do not fall into these categories, it is still in your best interest to decrease the amount of sodium in your diet. Taking steps to ward off cardiovascular disease such as monitoring salt intake is beneficial to everyone.

If you are at risk of heart disease and in need of a cardiologist, call Tampa Cardiovascular Associates for a consultation. Call us today at 813-975-2800 or fill out a form online. We look forward to hearing from you!