High blood pressure: salt and TRANS-fats reduce life expectancy

Small Change with a big impact

Heart the most common causes of death are diseases of the world by some distance. One of the biggest risk factors for cardiovascular diseases of hypertension. In Germany 20 to 30 million people suffer from it, often without knowing it. Researchers are desperately looking for solutions to the massive effects of high blood pressure reduce. A study to identify a simple method that anyone can reduce his risk of premature death: You only need to reduce the salt intake, and TRANS fats without.

A research team at the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health sought to use simple measures to reduce the global incidence of heart disease. Two measures emerged as particularly effective: A reduction in sodium intake by 30 percent and the absence of TRANS fats. This alone could extend the study found that the lives of around 55 million people. The results were recently presented in the journal “Circulation”.

Salt and TRANS fats are often used for high blood pressure responsible

The researchers used global data from multiple studies and estimates by the world health organization and calculated it, what would be the benefits through a reduction of salt and TRANS-fats. As a result, an average reduction in salt consumption by 30 percent could eliminate around 40 million premature deaths. A waiver of harmful TRANS-fats further 14.8 million life would extend. “These are realistic goals, which proved to be in smaller scales than accessible haben“, the lead author of the study, Professor Goodarz Danaei reported in a press release announcing the study results.

Salt increases blood pressure, regardless of the diet

Salt is for the people, although essential to life, a high consumption is harmful to health. The Western diet is characterized by high salt consumption. A further study by the Imperial College London recently showed that salt leads regardless of the rest of the food to high blood pressure. Even by an otherwise healthy diet, the negative effect could not be compensated. The German society for nutrition (DGE) advises not to take as an adult, every day, more than six grams of salt to. For more information, please read “reduce blood pressure: How much salt is a significant influence recording”.

TRANS fats clog the heart circulation

TRANS fats are produced industrially by liquid vegetable oils with hydrogen added. Through this process, the fat will be harder, and make, for example, Chips and French fries crispy or baked goods a longer shelf life. Various studies have shown that TRANS fats the risk of heart disease increase by making the LDL-cholesterol increase and “good” HDL-lowering Cholesterinwere. In addition, put TRANS-fats faster than fat deposits in the blood vessels and promote atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). In 2018, Canada went ahead with a good example of a country from a language-wide ban of TRANS fats. For more information, read the article “How harmful are TRANS fats for our health”.

Men benefit most from the reduction in

As the researchers noted, in particular, should heed this advice. Because the current study found that two-thirds of deaths worldwide due to noncommunicable diseases before the age of 70. Year to the account of the male sex.

Tips for reducing salt

As the German high pressure League informs, is a salt restriction difficult. The information on the food products were often difficult to understand. So half would be able to cover the finished pizza, sometimes around 70 percent of the daily requirement of salt. The high-pressure League the following are tips to reduce Salt:

  • When cooking is not or only sparingly salts. Better fresh spices to use.
  • Sausage and cheese often contain a lot of salt and should be eaten in moderation.
  • Cured food can be largely avoided.
  • Ready meals consume as rarely as possible.
  • The food on the salt if necessary without.

Tips for a waiver for TRANS fats

In Germany, there is currently no regulation to TRANS fats. Only statements such as “contains hydrogenated” or “partially hydrogenated” fats on the presence of carefully. Mainly the harmful TRANS-fats in:

  • Baked goods such as Donuts, Croissants, cakes and biscuits,
  • Frostings,
  • Fast Food such as frozen pizza, burgers and fries,
  • Ready-made meals such as Instant soups,
  • Batters on deep-frozen meat or fish,
  • Munchies such as potato chips, Popcorn, crackers and granola bars.

(vb)

Link to original publication:

Three Public Health Interventions Could Save 94 Million Lives in 25 Years Global Impact Assessment Analysis; Circulation