pickles are a popular dish, often found in rice thanks to their salty and sour taste that stimulates the taste buds. However, behind the feeling of eating for free is a health problem that cannot be overlooked: high sodium content can have a negative impact on blood pressure if used regularly.
According to health experts, pickled cucumbers are actually cucumbers stored in salt water or vinegar. This process helps prolong the length of use but also significantly increases sodium intake, a factor directly related to high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke.
When pickles become a blood pressure driver
Many studies show that eating foods rich in sodium regularly causes the body to retain more water to balance salt. The increased fluid volume in the vessel increases blood pressure, gradually leading to chronic high blood pressure.
On average, a piece of pickle contains about 326 mg of sodium. Meanwhile, the recommendation for healthy adults is below 2,300 mg of sodium/day, even many cardiologists believe that the ideal level should only be around 1,500 mg/day. Eating pickles every day, especially when accompanied by other salty dishes, can easily cause the total amount of salt to exceed the safe threshold.
Allison Herries, a nutritionist (RDN) working in the United States, warned: A high-salt diet is one of the major but overlooked risk factors for high blood pressure. The dangerous thing is that this condition often progresses silently, without obvious symptoms.
Risk of obesity, cardiovascular disease and stroke
Not only does it affect blood pressure, salty diets are also associated with the risk of obesity. Studies show that high sodium intake is associated with increased body mass index (BMI) in both adults and children. Obesity is the "launching pad" for a series of other diseases such as high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke.
When blood pressure remains high for a long time, blood vessel walls can be damaged, creating conditions for atherosclerosis to form. This is the cause of myocardial infarction or cerebral vascular accident, which can have serious consequences for health and life.
According to allison Herries, Reducing sodium intake in the diet can bring the same lower blood pressure effect as some drugs, especially in people who are new to hypertension.
To control salt, experts recommend limiting pickles and processed foods such as fast food, cold meat, canned soups, and salty snacks. Instead, you should prioritize fresh, seasoned foods in moderation and practice reading nutrition labels.
pickles are not the only culprit, but eating them every day can be a small habit that creates big consequences. Adjusting from familiar details in meals is a sustainable way to protect blood pressure and long-term health.
