The basics of heart-friendly eating – with a focus on blood pressure

The latest newsletter of the MDOSZ Nutrition Academy summarizes the most important elements of heart-friendly nutrition, including blood pressure-friendly nutrition. These messages are increasingly becoming a market expectation – for manufacturers and retailers alike.

The “silent killer” that affects half of consumers

According to the newsletter, nearly half of the Hungarian adult population has hypertension; The prevalence is 56% in men and around 41% in women. A significant proportion of patients are asymptomatic, so many only become aware of the problem when complications – stroke, heart attack, kidney damage – occur.

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This means that practically every second person among the customers of an average Hungarian grocery store would benefit from a blood pressure-friendly selection – whether diagnosed with hypertension or just at risk is in the zone.

Salt – a risk and an opportunity for reform

The most critical nutrient for blood pressure is salt (sodium). The WHO recommends a maximum of 5 grams of table salt per day for adults, while Hungarian men consume an average of 16 grams and women 12 grams per day – that is, 2.5–3 times too much.

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The majority of the intake does not come from table salt, but from processed foods. According to the newsletter, 70–80% of the daily sodium intake comes from such products, highlighted hidden sources of salt:

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• breads and bakery products

• cold cuts, sausages and grilled products

• cheeses

• prepared meals, powdered soups, spice and stock mixtures

• salty snacks

Even a daily salt intake of 4–5 grams can bring a noticeable (5–6 mmHg) decrease in blood pressure. This represents a huge opportunity for reform products: breads, cold cuts, ready-made meals, snacks with reduced salt content.