Salt and high blood pressure: Two silent killers

Watch out. That extra teaspoon of patis, the liberal sprinkling of table salt and the dollops of bagoong alamang, padas, monamon or guinamos can be dangerous to your health. The Philippine Society of Hypertension warns that excessive salt intake is a major factor in raising blood pressure levels. And for Filipino diners who love their salty ulam or sawsawan, now is a good time to take stock of what they eat to attain better health.

“By reducing salt in the diet, mortality and morbidity from cardiovascular diseases can be significantly reduced,” says Dr. Abdias Aquino, president of the Philippine Society of Hypertension. “Excess salt raises blood pressure, and high blood pressure is the number one cause of death worldwide. Cutting down salt intake by half significantly reduces the number of deaths from high blood pressure or hypertension.”

Dr. Aquino explains that rises in blood pressure levels result when blood volume increases and/or blood vessels constrict, forcing the heart to pump harder to supply oxygen and nutrients to various organs in the body. Over time, the blood vessels are damaged and complications arise. High blood pressure has been identified as the leading risk factor for stroke, kidney failure, heart failure, heart attack, blindness, and premature death.

Is salt really to blame for high blood pressure? Various studies “indicate a direct link between salt consumption and high blood pressure akin to that between smoking and cancer.” Consider these results: A study involving 10,400 patients, across 32 different countries, found that excess salt in the diet directly increases a patient’s systolic blood pressure, or the force placed on the arteries as the heart pumps around the body. The Foods Standards Agency in the United Kingdom found that sodium in salt causes the body to retain water, with excess levels resulting in increased blood pressure. Moreover, since excess salt consumption has been shown to raise blood pressure levels even in “normal” individuals, the elderly, diabetes patients, the obese, and those with high cardiovascular and cerebrovascular conditions experience increased risk.

A landmark study called DASH or Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension sponsored by the US-based National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute recommends a diet rich in fish, chicken, lean meat, low-fat dairy, fruits, vegetables, whole grains monounsaturated oils, legumes, and seeds to promote healthy blood pressure. Lowering salt intake is likewise ideal. Although the World Health Organization suggests an average salt intake of six grams or roughly one teaspoon per day, people in many countries including the Philippines consume around 12 grams of salt — double the amount deemed necessary.

Nutrition expert Dr. Rosario Acosta is quick to point out that salt occurs naturally in all foods. “Table salt represents a mere 10 percent of daily salt intake,” she says. “We have to train ourselves to think that each food has its own natural sweetness or saltiness. Since food processing and preservation result in a significant rise in salt content, we have to go back to the natural way and choose fresh, rather than processed food.”

“With over 10 million Filipinos suffering from hypertension and high blood pressure being one of the top five causes of death in the country, this year’s WHD theme ‘Salt and High Blood Pressure: Two Silent Killers’ is especially relevant,” says Eric van Oppens, president and CEO of Novartis Healthcare Philippines.

In support of World Hypertension Day (WHD), the Philippine Society of Hypertension and Novartis Healthcare Philippines, in collaboration with the Department of Health, Philippine Heart Association, and Philippine Society of Nephrology, have launched the Low-Salt Recipe Contest. Says Christine Liwanag, corporate affairs and market access director of Novartis Philippines, “The contest aims to increase public awareness on how everyday Filipino dishes can be made delectable and healthy even with minimal amount of salt.” 

The contest is open to all Filipinos, male or female, aged 18 years and above. The recipe should be a common everyday Filipino dish, preferably written in English. Include a brief explanation of how the dish was made delectable even with minimal salt use. When submitting your recipe, include your name, age, gender, latest blood pressure reading, and contact details (address, landline/mobile phone number).
Participants may e-mail their recipe with a photo of the actual plated dish to lowsalt@novartis.com from May 17 to 31. Entries should be received by 5 p.m. of May 31. Winners will be announced on June 2.
The first prize is P30,000, second prize P20,000, and third prize P15,000. Fourth to 10th prize winners will receive P5,000 each.

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Log on to www.novartis.com.ph for delectable low-salt recipes prepared by chef Rolando Laudico.