Loading Patient Portal Login Call Today (281) 469-7704 Home Meet the Providers Services Patient Portal Instructions Contact Us From the Doctor's Desk Print Protect Your Heart: Hold the Salt and Hold the Sugar By now, you probably know to "hold the salt" to protect your heart. In fact, the American Heart Association just released new stricter salt recommendations lowering the daily-recommended amount from 2500 mg to 1500 mg. However, researchers are also suggesting that you "hold the sugar". Although heart disease claims more lives in America each year than cancer or stroke, many people may not be aware how reducing salt and sugar consumption can benefit their heart health. Americans typically consume more than 2 times the recommendation of 1,500 mg of salt per day, with about 77% of daily salt intake coming from packaged, processed, fast, and restaurant food. Excess salt can elevate blood pressure and increase the risk of stroke, heart attack, and kidney disease. Even decreasing salt intake by only 400 mg per day can be beneficial to your heart health. Consuming a high amount of added sugars in processed, packaged, or prepared foods, and soda pop or sugary drinks has recently been linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease by researchers at Emory University in Atlanta. It appears that higher consumption of added sugars can increase the risk of heart disease. Excess sugar specifically appears to cause low levels of "good" cholesterol (HDL-C) and high levels of triglycerides, a type of fat that is in the blood. Although larger long-term research trials are needed on the relationship between added sugar and heart disease, the Emory researchers support dietary guidelines that would recommend limits on consumption of added sugars. Here are some tips for reducing your salt and sugar intake: • Read food and beverage labels and keep track of your daily consumption of sugar and salt • Find recipe-makeovers for your favorite meals that contain less salt and less added sugar • Consult a nutritionist for help planning menus and meals • Learn what foods are best to select when dining out • Ask your doctor's office for educational material and resources in your area • The American Heart Association and American Diabetes Association have helpful guides on their websites Copyright © 2021 - iHealthSpot, Inc. - www.iHealthSpot.com This information is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It should not be used in place of an individual consultation or examination or replace the advice of your health care professional and should not be relied upon to determine diagnosis or course of treatment. An Update on Eating Disorders An Update on GERD Colon and Rectal Cancer: Get Yourself Tested Depression and Heart Disease FDA Approves New Medication for Quitting Smoking Good Cholesterol…Bad Cholesterol…What Does It All Mean? Medication Safety during Storms and Evacuations Pain Medication without GI or Cardiovascular Side Effects Sleep Disorders - Becoming Mainstream Medicine Smoking Contributes to 50% of all Bladder Cancers TV or Computer in Teen’s Room = Less Sleep What You Need to Know about Counterfeit Drugs Women and Heart Disease – The Facts May Surprise You Women: Don’t Let a Weak Bladder Control Your Life The Swine Flu: Prevention Not Panic Don't Spend Halloween in the Emergency Room! Tips for Carving a Pumpkin Safely Don't let Jack Frost Nip Your Nose or Toes ...and now the Trick Halloween Candy and Cavity Preventation 1 in 3 Americans Could Have Diabetes by 2050 Fad Diets are Not Long-term Weight Loss Solutions Gardasil HPV Vaccine: Not Just for Females! Parents of Preschoolers: Let's Talk About Weight Protect Your Heart: Hold the Salt and Hold the Sugar Teens More Vulnerable to the Effects of a Concussion Sprains and Strains - Simple steps to get you back to the things you love faster! Summer Sports Tips: Preventing Golf Injuries Sports Tips: Preventing Tennis Injuries Cooling Off and Staying Safe: Tips for Pool Safely Flip-flop fear: how these flimsy shoes can impact your step Managing eye strain in a digital age Eating well for better eye health Easy strides: enjoy the convenience and health benefits of walking Artificial pancreas breakthrough brings hope for 1 diabetics Bicycle Safety Essential sleep: helping kids get enough How clean are your hands? Deciding when to use soap vs sanitizer Resistant starches show benefit for colon health, cancer, and diabetes reduction Three screenings every woman should get Preventing Diabetes with the Mediterranean Diet From Sleep Apnea to Beauty Sleep Tracker Craze: Fitness Trackers – The Future Is Now! Another Type of Sunray Ages Skin Prematurely Cranberry Products May Help Prevent Urinary Tract Infections Even Young, Healthy Smokers Show Signs of Lung Damage Colon Cancer: The Necessity of Getting Checked Bacteria Offer New Hope for Acne Prone Smartphone Apps Delay Diagnosis and Treatment of Skin Cancer FDA Begins Inquiry into the Effects of Antibacterial Soaps Healthy Eating May Be as Easy as Following Traffic Signals Botox Effective Treatment for Urinary Incontinence Sport and Energy Drinks: Not Kids Stuff Omega-3 Fatty Acids Appear to Ease Osteoarthritis Symptoms Stress Makes Allergies Worse Why We Miss So Many Heart Attacks in Women For Teens, Sleep Is a Family Affair Too Much Sodium in the Diet May Trigger Autoimmune Diseases Yoga's Benefits Go Straight to the Heart More Dangerous Than Smoking Type 2 Diabetes Linked to Antibiotic Use Men: Stop Avoiding Your Health Request An Appointment Patient Portal Instructions Contact Us Meet the Providers Services Family Medicine Infants, Children, Adolescents Women's Health Men's Health Medical Website Design and Medical Marketing by iHealthSpot.com Home Privacy Policy Sitemap Copyright © 2021 Barnard Family Health Centers. All rights reserved.