Will excessive salt consumption cause a spike in blood pressure? Over the Christmas Holidays we had a ton of good food that included alot of salted foods, gravy, and Honey Baked cured ham. All was loaded with salt and other seasonings and I enjoyed it all for days. Just happened to get my blood pressure checked and it was up 25 points from what is normal for me. Just wondering if excessive eating of salted food could/would cause that??

Thanks, Dave

Hi Dave,

Yes, excessive salt/sodium intake will cause a spike in your blood pressure. There are many things you can eat to help lower it as well as things to do. Here is a good link. Also, eating garlic and cayenne pepper helps too.

http://www.prevention.com/lowerbloodpressurenaturally/index.shtml

Thanks for the replies and information. I am sure my salt intake is excessive, probably need to cut back and visit my DR for evaluation of the current rise in BP. I like to eat so change may be difficult, but the alternative is not good either.

I did order one of those Omron brand home BP testers. Maybe that will help with the monitoring for changes.

Dave

I watched my Dad eat salt out of his hand after a hot day outside for years and then developed HBP and ended up dieing of a heart attack. I listened to a salt vs HBP agument on the radio on my way to the NTA convention in Columbia MO last year. His argument was that salt retains water which the body needs and it made sence to mee so I started consuming sea salt throughout the day. The next visit to the Dr revealed I had HBP which was not normal for me so I stopped. No salt for me. All back to normal. I conclude that salt will raise your BP.

I probably should go to my regular doctor and get a check up. I am afraid of what he might tell me about my BP and what he might do to my presently unrestricted and enjoyable diet, but change might be necessary to keep me from becoming a statistic.

Dave

Do not add salt to your foods because you still need salt but do not over do it and just watch how much you take into your self .You should be ok , but the body dose need salt.Just for what I have to live with , and have no problems with salt. or HBP It works for me .

I cut out ADDED salt. It was easier than I expected.

Use unrefined salt . It's way better than the cheap junk. Use the cheap junk on slugs or other garden pests. I like Himalayan pink salt.

I like the garlic idea.

I learned the unrefined salt thing from Dr. Paul in Long Lake, South Dakota.

Whatever this refined salt is (I've never heard of it), I wonder why they don't use it in items I see at the grocery store.

Refined salt is regular table salt with iodine and anti-caking additives.

Yeah, I think sea salt is probably over-rated. Smooth marketing by food makers. But I could be wrong.