Anonymous wrote:Couple of things OP:

Can a high-salt diet cause hypertension: no
Can a high-salt diet exacerbate hypertension: yes
Can a low-salt diet & weight loss & excercise cure hypertension: maybe

Hypertension is a combo of aging, genetics, and diet. You can control one of those three factors. If the low-salt diet works, the person will not be able to resume a high-salt diet because the hypertension will likely reoccur. Sometimes salt doesn't matter, but excercise and weight loss do. Sometimes none of the above matters and aging/genetics drives the hypertension.

And lifestyle

Couple of things OP:

Can a high-salt diet cause hypertension: no
Can a high-salt diet exacerbate hypertension: yes
Can a low-salt diet & weight loss & excercise cure hypertension: maybe

Hypertension is a combo of aging, genetics, and diet. You can control one of those three factors. If the low-salt diet works, the person will not be able to resume a high-salt diet because the hypertension will likely reoccur. Sometimes salt doesn't matter, but excercise and weight loss do. Sometimes none of the above matters and aging/genetics drives the hypertension.

Anonymous wrote:a lot of women develop hypertension as they age; it's not reversible and limiting salt may help.

OP, if you're looking for ways on how to cook, this is a classic:
http://www.amazon.com/Cooking-Without-Grain-Salt-Elma/dp/0553579517/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1402169840&sr=1-4&keywords=salt+free+cookbook

also, American Heart will have good recipes:
http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/HighBloodPressure/Low-Sodium-Recipes_UCM_306800_Article.jsp

Just looked at the top link really briefly -- any idea if migraines caused by salt are from a spike in blood pressure from the salt?

Anonymous wrote:Why is salt the only thing being considered? There are many good ways to lower BP ... Reducing visceral fat makes a tremendous difference.

I'm open to hearing whatever you know about it. I was only focusing on salt because it's what I can easily control.

Why is salt the only thing being considered? There are many good ways to lower BP ... Reducing visceral fat makes a tremendous difference.

a lot of women develop hypertension as they age; it's not reversible and limiting salt may help.

OP, if you're looking for ways on how to cook, this is a classic:
http://www.amazon.com/Cooking-Without-Grain-Salt-Elma/dp/0553579517/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1402169840&sr=1-4&keywords=salt+free+cookbook

also, American Heart will have good recipes:
http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/HighBloodPressure/Low-Sodium-Recipes_UCM_306800_Article.jsp

Anonymous wrote:15:32 again, if your problem is how to cook for someone who has been diagnosed with hypertension, cut as much salt as you can. It already exists in many foods. Try swapping out salt for herbs, which will keep the dishes interesting by adding a more intense flavor.

Thanks for all the responses. This is what I am doing -- but I'm also hoping the condition will improve if they stop eating salt, so one day they will be able to eat salt again.

15:32 again, if your problem is how to cook for someone who has been diagnosed with hypertension, cut as much salt as you can. It already exists in many foods. Try swapping out salt for herbs, which will keep the dishes interesting by adding a more intense flavor.

Hypertension (aka high blood pressure) is not normally caused by excessive salt intake, but excessive salt intake can exacerbate it. Causes are many: medication, narrowing of the arteries, heart conditions, kidney probs to name a few. Think about increasing the pressure of water through a garden hose. Pressure goes up if blood volume increases or if the hose is pinched a bit. When you take in too much salt, it causes your body to retain fluid, which increases the volume throughout your body. So if your heart or blood vessels are already under strain, the extra volume makes it worse.

Anonymous wrote:Read this.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/03/opinion/sunday/we-only-think-we-know-the-truth-about-salt.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

Hmm, not really helpful at all.

Anonymous wrote:Read this.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/03/opinion/sunday/we-only-think-we-know-the-truth-about-salt.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

+1. Use sea salt. You don't need to use as much for food to taste seasoned.

Read this.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/03/opinion/sunday/we-only-think-we-know-the-truth-about-salt.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

Thank you PP. Is high blood pressure CAUSED by too much salt? And is it reversible eventually by avoiding salt?

Trying to figure out how to cook for this person.

How: salt changes the salinity of the blood. More salt attracts water into the blood system. More water = higher pressure

Does low-salt change the BP: it can. Sometimes it's not enough to wean completely off BP meds, but at least lower your dose.

How does salt cause high blood pressure? Does the condition ever go back to normal once salt has been cut back or eliminated for a while? (i.e, can the person go back to eating salt regularly?)