Lower blood pressure
There is a strong link between consuming too much sodium and high blood pressure, so reducing sodium intake can also lower blood pressure.
Following the DASH diet can significantly reduce blood pressure at all ages, even in people who do not have high blood pressure.
Lower LDL cholesterol
Both the DASH and Mediterranean diets are rich in fiber, unsaturated fats, and low in saturated fat, sodium, and added sugars. This way of eating can help reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol.
This is good because too much LDL cholesterol will lead to plaque buildup in the arteries, increasing the risk of heart attack, stroke and heart disease.
Control kidney disease
In chronic kidney disease, the kidneys cannot regulate the amount of sodium and fluid in the body in the way they can when they function normally.
By limiting your sodium intake, a low-sodium diet can help reduce the risk of complications of kidney disease, such as worsening kidney function and the need for dialysis.
