MOSCOW, Nov 17. A low-sodium diet can help lower blood pressure in one week, according to a study by American scientists published in the medical journal JAMA.
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“A week of a low-sodium diet led to a decrease in systolic blood pressure by an average of eight millimeters of mercury compared with a high-sodium diet,” the material states.
The study was conducted among 213 people aged 50 to 75 years. The respondents completed two week-long diets, one with sodium levels increased by 2,200 milligrams from the usual daily intake and one with sodium intake reduced to 500 milligrams per day. During the first week, 95 people ate a low-sodium diet, then switched to a high-sodium diet. The remaining 118 respondents were on diets in the opposite order.
Sodium is a chemical element found in salt, baking soda and monosodium glutamate, ingredients regularly used in cooking and essential for preserving food, retaining moisture and improving taste of dishes.