New Study Shows Certain Hormones May Help Heart Health

It's no secret that heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. It claims the lives of about 610,000 people a year. A lot of factors contribute to heart disease, which generally develops little by little over time.

One known risk factor for heart disease, high blood pressure, and other health problems is eating too much sodium. The average adult consumes about 3,400 mg of sodium per day. But if you're trying to keep sodium levels from food under control, health professionals recommend consumer 1,500 mg of sodium or less.

Why is a low-sodium diet important for heart health? Too much sodium can cause chest pains, reduce blood flow to the heart, damage arteries, and lead to a heart attack.

Eating a low-sodium diet will help protect your heart. New research also suggests that increasing levels of specific hormones found in the gut (GLP-1 and ghrelin), may also help people change their eating habits. Researchers found that increasing these two hormones in the gut may help ward off addictive habits that can damage the heart like overeating, smoking, and excessive drinking.

More research is needed to understand the connection between these hormones and addictive behaviors that can damage heart health. Until using hormones for heart disease becomes a treatment method approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, eating a low-sodium diet is one natural heart care tip you'll need to follow to keep your heart healthy.

Fortunately, that doesn't mean you have to settle for flavorless food, bland vegetables, or tasteless meals. Just take a look at all the Low-Sodium meals available like Chicken & Apple Curry With Jasmine Rice & Broccoli, Salmon and vegetable Linguine, Beef Pot Roast with Mushroom Gravy, Brown Rice, & Green Beans, and many others.