Sodium is one of the surprising things that can affect your blood pressure. As explained by Dr. Joel Fuhrman, a high-sodium diet can affect your heart by increasing your blood pressure and in other ways. Let’s take a look at the blood pressure connection first.
“When there is an increase in sodium in the blood, water moves into the bloodstream, and pressure increases on the walls of the vessels,” the author and family physician tells us exclusively. Your kidneys work by expelling sodium and water from your system and balancing blood pressure levels. However, chronic overconsumption of salt can mess with this. “Excess sodium intake impairs the function of water and salt-balancing hormones, and kidney function typically declines with age, especially when the kidneys’ blood vessels are frequently exposed to high pressures,” Dr. Fuhrman reveals.
Though there are low-sodium varieties of canned tuna available, regular canned tuna contains more than what the physician would recommend as a maximum serving of added sodium for a day, which is 300 milligrams. “Most canned tuna has more than that in a single serving,” Dr. Fuhrman shares. In fact, canned goods, packaged goods, and even meals eaten at restaurants are more concerning when it comes to your daily salt intake. It’s not really about how you season things at home, but there are some ways you can adjust your lifestyle to avoid excess sodium intake and, thereby, high blood pressure.