Ayurveda explain why low salt diets cause more harm than good for those with high blood pressure.
Ayurveda bases meal recommendations on a person’s bodily type (or dosha). Although one body type may respond better to a particular taste or cuisine, completely cutting out the meal is never advised. Limiting the troublesome food is always preferable to eliminating it. Also, once a person is balanced, any foods can be ingested with awareness and balance. Recent study shows how the solo approach fails and even has negative effects.
When a person has high blood pressure, conventional wisdom advised either completely avoiding salt or aiming for 1,500 to 2,300 mg of salt per day. These recommendations are supported by evidence from studies demonstrating a negative outcome and risk for cardiovascular disease in people who consume excessive amounts of salt.
However, no studies have demonstrated that reducing salt intake to extremely low levels has improved patient outcomes. It has been demonstrated that sodium levels that are too low are hazardous.
Approach towards HBP treatment & Ayurveda
Ayurvedic medicine is one of the world’s oldest medical systems and still remains as India’s prominent traditional health care system. Ayurvedic treatment combines medical products mainly derived from plants, but may also include animal, metal, and mineral. It also include diet, yoga, and lifestyle.
The inadequate conventional attitude of modern medicine is demonstrated by the recent research. It showed how diets with low to no salt levels have caused health risks. Instead of making an effort to balance a person’s diet or promote healthy behaviours, one specific element is concentrated on and severely reduced. Sodium, a mineral found in salt, is essential for numerous biological processes.
A hormonal reaction from the renin-angiotensin system, which controls BP, can be brought on by a deficiency in sodium. Additionally, it has the potential to raise blood pressure. Moreover, a very low sodium diet is linked to greater levels of blood lipids. This causes another risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
Ayurveda evaluates food based on a person’s physiological type (or dosha). The absolute exclusion of a food is never advised. This is even though one body type may respond better to a particular taste or food. Limiting the troublesome food is always preferable to eliminating it. Also, once a person is balanced, any foods can be ingested with awareness and balance. Recent study shows how the solo approach fails and even has negative effects.
Excessive salt consumption is not advised for those with high blood pressure. However, some salt is necessary for normal bodily function.
Need of salt in a balanced diet
Salts are not created equally. Consuming natural, unprocessed salt that contains trace minerals, such as sea salt and Himalayan salt, is advised. Processed table salt contains a lot of synthetic compounds. Regrettably, manufactured salt is a common ingredient in American diets.
Furthermore, potassium, found in fruits and vegetables, seems to reduce blood pressure and cardiac risks while counteracting the negative effects of salt. Hence, to balance the benefits of salt, consume fruits and vegetables along with it.
Some mistakenly believe that giving up delicious food is the only way to be healthy, but this is untrue. It involves eating a balanced diet.
Ayurvedic health practitioners can assist you if you don’t always know how to balance your diet in a way that is ideal for your body type.
Parvathy Sukumaran 
