What Do Cancer and High Blood Pressure Have in Common?

What Do Cancer and High Blood Pressure Have in Common?
By LuAnne Jamieson

Sodium and Stomach Cancer

In a study by the World Cancer Research Fund, it was found that 14 percent, (or in other words one in seven) of cases of stomach cancer could be prevented by watching sodium levels. I don't know about you, but considering this new information and also sodium's impact on blood pressure numbers, I think it's worth the effort to start learning what foods have higher levels of sodium and how to keep those levels under control.

Do You Know What to Look for When Watching Your Sodium?

According to the World Cancer Research Fund, in the U.K. where the study was completed, 43% of people consume more than the recommended amount of sodium. That recommended amount has a little more lenient number of 2400 mg's when high blood pressure isn't in the picture. If you do happen to have high blood pressure, aim for 1500 mg.

Don't you think it would be a good idea to get into the habit of aiming for the lower number even if you don't have high blood pressure? That way it's easier to not go over the 2400 mg, and is just a good habit to form.

Low Sodium Diets

It is really easier than it sounds to keep your sodium levels down. Here are a few tips:

• Keep packaged foods to a minimum. Three quarters of our salt comes already included in packaged foods. FYI: Not a good thing!


• Read and compare labels. The same food from a different brand could have more or less sodium than the other. For example: one low sodium chicken stock had more sodium than a regular brand, and I found a well-known brand soup that their low sodium tomato soup was the same as their regular product.


• Cut back on deli-meats and red meat. Deli-meats are loaded with sodium; cutting back on red meat is more because of the added cholesterol that contributes to high blood pressure.

This may be harsh, but it is your choice on whether you watch your sodium or not. But consider this: only about 15 percent of stomach cancer patients live more than five years because this particular disease isn't usually diagnosed early enough for treatments to bring better results. That coupled with the possible outcome of high blood pressure issues and medicinal side effects makes dietary efforts soooo much easier to deal with. Don't you think so, too?

For more information on which foods help with lowering blood pressure, click here. You'll also find a link on that page to the eBook "How to Lower Blood Pressure & Be Healthier." It is full of information that will help you to get those blood pressure numbers where you want them to be.

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