For people with high blood pressure, the habit of drinking salted lemon water needs to be carefully considered, because the benefits and risks can go hand in hand if used incorrectly.
The most notable ingredient in salted lemon water is sodium. Salt usually contains sodium, a mineral that plays a role in regulating fluids in the body, but consuming too much will increase blood volume and put pressure on the vessel walls. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), excessive sodium consumption is one of the important causes of high and uncontrolled blood pressure.
Dr. Lawrence Appel, a cardiologist and nutritionist at Johns Hopkins University (USA), said: In people with high blood pressure, just a slight increase in the amount of sodium in their daily diet can cause blood pressure to fluctuate significantly. Drinks with added salt, if consumed regularly, will reduce the effectiveness of treatment". This is especially noteworthy for people who have been diagnosed with high blood pressure or are taking blood pressure medication.
On the other hand, lemon brings certain benefits. This fruit is rich in vitamin C, flavonoids and has a sour taste that helps stimulate the taste buds. Some studies show that vitamin C can help improve vascular endothelial function. However, experts emphasize that these benefits are not enough to compensate for the risk of sodium if the salted lemon juice is mixed too much or drunk many times a day.
Dr. Nicole Weinberg, a cardiologist in the US, commented: People with high blood pressure do not need to completely abstain from lemon, but should be cautious with salt. If you want to drink lemon water, it is best to dilute it, do not or only add a little salt, and prioritize drinking water.
In fact, many people maintain the habit of drinking salted lemon water every morning or after sweating a lot without taking into account the amount of salt taken from other meals. This can cause the total sodium intake of the day to exceed the safe threshold, silently causing blood pressure to increase.
Experts recommend that people with high blood pressure should limit their salt intake to the maximum if they want to drink lemon water, only drink it occasionally and not consider it a daily drink. More importantly, blood pressure control should be based on a diet rich in green vegetables and fruits, combined with reasonable exercise and compliance with medical treatment. A glass of seemingly harmless water, if not paid attention to, can also become an adverse factor for cardiovascular health.
