The Biggest Cause of High Blood Pressure

From being overweight to smoking, various risk factors can set the stage for high blood pressure. Like many other conditions, your diet also plays a significant role. Worse still, one of the most common causes of high blood pressure is a common ingredient guaranteed to be in your kitchen. Blood Pressure UK explains: "Salt makes your body retain water. If you eat a lot, the excess water in your blood means there is extra pressure on the walls of your blood vessels, which raises blood pressure. If you already have high blood pressure, too much salt will raise it further and may mean that any blood pressure medication you are taking isn’t working as it should." Furthermore, reducing salt intake "will start to make a difference very quickly, even within weeks," according to the UK Blood Pressure Organization. The British NHS confirms that adults should eat less than six grams of salt per day. Blood Pressure UK adds: "Most of the salt we eat is hidden in ready-made foods we buy, such as bread, biscuits, breakfast cereals, sauces, and seasonings, as well as takeaway meals." In fact, this hidden salt accounts for about three-quarters (75%) of the salt that people consume. This means that only a small amount comes from salt added during cooking or at the table. It continues: "Check the nutrition information on food labels to see if they are low, medium, or high in salt, and compare them with other products to find healthier options."