proper diet for highblood

tricia · Joined: 16 Jan 2006 Posts: 221

I have a question about salt and proper diet for highblood pressure. I have highblood pressure, and I was advised from some friends to completely eliminate salt from my diet in order to normalize blood pressure. I know salt is not healthy, because of increased kidney functioning, but I do not eat very salty food. However, I tried not to salt my food and it tastes horrible. I cannot eat it. It has no taste.
I it true that proper diet for highblood pressure excludes salt?

sonia · Joined: 25 Jan 2006 Posts: 284

You should eliminate salt as much as possible, but to follow what you friends have advised you, I think this is not necessary. Most people get rid of extra salt through kidney functioning. As you said yourself, salt is not healthy, and if you do not exaggerate (half of tea spoon daily is more than enough for most people)- for person with highblood pressure this amount is too big! Salt is usually not harmful for people with normal blood pressure, their kidneys do the filtration. But people with high blood pressure should avoid eating excessive salt! Thus avoid eating salty food, like chips, etc… Try to replace salt (in some amount) with other not so harmful spices.