Some researchers in Finland reported that significant reduction of salt from their diets played a critical role in adding 5 to 6 years to the life expectancies of the Finnish population . They also reported that hypertension is the leading cause of death in developed countries. Reduction of salt intake is recommended as a key measure in the prevention and basic treatment of hypertension both in the United States and worldwide. The Renin-Angiotensin Aldosterone (RAA) system is maximally activated when an individual is subjected to prolonged very low sodium intakes of less than 5 mmol a day. Half-maximal stimulation (or inhibition) of plasma rennin activity takes place at sodium intake levels of approximately 30 mmol a day. Sodium intake at the level of 50 mmol a day suppresses secretion of the sodium-retaining hormone, aldosterone, almost completely. The control range of the RAA mechanism is therefore in excellent agreement with the sodium amounts, which can be derived from diets comprising only of natural articles without any artificial addition of salts or other sodium compounds. These findings strongly support the view that human beings are genetically programmed to eat foods that contain sodium in amounts that are naturally present but do not contain added salt. | Some researchers in Finland reported that significant reduction of salt from their diets played a critical role in adding 5 to 6 years to the life expectancies of the Finnish population . They also reported that hypertension is the leading cause of death in developed countries. Reduction of salt intake is recommended as a key measure in the prevention and basic treatment of hypertension both in the United States and worldwide. The Renin-Angiotensin Aldosterone (RAA) system is maximally activated when an individual is subjected to prolonged very low sodium intakes of less than 5 mmol a day. Half-maximal stimulation (or inhibition) of plasma rennin activity takes place at sodium intake levels of approximately 30 mmol a day. Sodium intake at the level of 50 mmol a day suppresses secretion of the sodium-retaining hormone, aldosterone, almost completely. The control range of the RAA mechanism is therefore in excellent agreement with the sodium amounts, which can be derived from diets comprising only of natural articles without any artificial addition of salts or other sodium compounds. These findings strongly support the view that human beings are genetically programmed to eat foods that contain sodium in amounts that are naturally present but do not contain added salt. |