High blood pressure is a major risk factor for erectile dysfunction (ED). Excessive salt intake is associated with higher blood pressure, so it’s wise to keep your salt consumption under control.
Step away from the salt shaker and no one will get hurt.
Yes, excessive sodium in your diet really is that serious, and it’s not just because raised blood pressure puts a strain on your heart, kidneys and brain.
Even your penis can be affected by too much salt, which shouldn’t be that surprising since everything in your body is connected in one way or another.
The Salt-ED Connection
One way that salt can lead to erectile dysfunction (ED) is through hypertension.
Having high blood pressure can damage your arteries, which can decrease the much-needed blood flow to your penis.
The other issue with hypertension is that some of the medications men take for high blood pressure, such as thiazide diuretic, can cause ED. The same is true for drugs used to treat hypertension-related heart failure.
How Much Salt is Too Much?
According to the American Public Health Association, men should consume no more than 1500 mg of salt daily. One way to do this is by cutting back on processed foods, which contribute to about 77% of salt consumption. Some of the top culprits include:
- Lunch meats
- Salted nuts
- Chips
- Pizza
- Cheese
- Canned soups
- Pickles
- Saltine crackers
- Soda
The London Wolfson Institute of Preventative Medicine did a study from 2003 to 2011 and found that just a 15% decrease in salt intake created a 40% decline in heart disease and 42% decline in deaths from strokes.
The Salt Intake of African Americans
According to an article in the Pittsburgh Courier, even the recommended 1500 mg of salt per day is too much for Black Americans. That’s because two-thirds are salt sensitive, and of those who are salt sensitive, 95% have high blood pressure.
In addition, the article pointed out that nearly 75% of the differences in life expectancy between Black Americans and White Americans can be attributed to deaths caused by salt-induced and salt-sensitive high blood pressure.
If you have erectile dysfunction (ED), a healthy lifestyle is the foundation of addressing the condition. If you are interested in ordering prescription ED medications like Viagra online, we invite you to visit eDrugstore.com.
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