The new research warns that the flow of blood in the main arteries of the body is reduced considerably within half an hour of eating high salty meal. It is revealed by doctors that main arteries speedily lost their capability to pump blood due to harmful effects of salt.
The recent study by Australian research team shows that salt may also harm the heart by making the blood vessels inflexible and less capable to keep blood moving all though the body. In a bit to analyze the effect of dietary salt intake on functioning of the blood vessel, the researchers carried out a study.
The conscripted sixteen healthy adult participants, all the participants were asked to eat a trail meal containing four gram of salt then low salt food having just o.3 gram of salt. All the participants were tested for flow of blood before and after they eaten the meals, by checking the brachial artery.
It is the main artery in the upper arm which doctors normally use to check blood pressure. Though the brachial artery does not measure blood flow directly to the heart but it is commonly used to give an indication of cardiovascular health. Healthy blood vessels stretch open to allow more blood passes through easily but damaged ones are less flexible and restrict the flow.
The results of the study revealed that flow of the blood was impaired within thirty minutes of consuming the salty meal in comparison to the lows-salt meal and the effects of salt peaked after an hour, reported the study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
According to Prof Graham MacGregor, chairman of the lobby group Consensus Action on Salt and Health, this study is of great interest. It clearly shows a speedy effect on the stiffness of the blood vessels. It observed the effects of eating just four gram of salt.
That is not particularly high and is possibly average for many meals consumed in the UK. In fact, if you eat out you will probably consume more than that. This kind of damage to the blood flow is thought to be a very early sign of heart disease, added Prof MacGregor.
Every time you eat a salty meal you are altering the function of the cells that line your arteries. People who consume more than recommended amount of salt are at raised risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, kidney problems and stomach cancer.