Does Salt Increase Blood Pressure?

Sodium is an essential mineral. The main source of sodium for most people is salt (sodium chloride). Sodium is found naturally in foods and added to prepared foods. While the recommended amount of daily added sodium is 2.300 mg, most people diets high in prepared foods consume significantly more. Salt is an inexpensive flavor enhancer.

While high sodium diets can increase the risk of high blood pressure in some people, people with healthy kidneys and eating high potassium diets can consume more sodium without developing high blood pressure.

Instead of guessing if your blood sodium levels are too low or high, the Comprehensive Metabolic Panel (CMP) blood test measures your levels of sodium, potassium, and chloride. In some U.S. states, you  do not need a doctors order for a CMP test. CMP also includes blood protein and calcium levels.

In this video:

• What is salt? 00:43
• Salt versus sodium. 1:13
• Sodium and blood pressure. 3:02
• Added salt and blood pressure. 3:53
• Prepared foods and sodium. 5:56
• DASH diet, sodium and blood pressure. 6:39