Processed foods have both salt and sugar together, which makes blood pressure go up more than either one alone because salt adds water and sugar stops your body from getting rid of the salt.

Pro

Against

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

Community contributions welcome

Dissociation of sodium-chloride cotransporter expression and blood pressure during chronic high dietary potassium supplementation

Cohort Study

Animal

2023 Mar 8

This study explores how potassium intake affects blood pressure, which is related to the sodium and carbohydrate balance in the body.

Contradicting (2)

Community contributions welcome

Blood Pressure in Old Female SHR is not Salt Sensitive and Tempol Fails to Decrease Blood Pressure during High Salt Intake

Randomized Controlled Trial

Animal

This study shows that high salt intake does not affect blood pressure in older female rats.

Projected effect of dietary salt reductions on future cardiovascular disease.

Computational/Algorithm Study

2010 Feb 18

This study suggests that reducing salt in the diet could help prevent heart disease.

Similar Assertions

Processed foods are typically low in potassium, which normally aids sodium excretion and vascular relaxation, exacerbating hypertension when combined with high sodium and refined carbs.

84%

Hypertension is primarily caused by processed foods that disrupt multiple regulatory mechanisms of blood pressure, rather than being solely a salt or sugar issue.

78%

Eating a lot of carbs might make your body hold onto more salt, which could raise your blood pressure.

72%