“It is said that eating too much salt is not good. Why do the older generation often eat pickles because they are poor but rarely get sick?”

Received in the background A very interesting question. In the 1950s and 1960s, many people were so poor that they often ate pickles. Now fewer people eat pickles, and more and more people with high blood pressure and cancer are suffering. Is it wrong that a high-salt diet is harmful?

First, are pickles an accomplice of high blood pressure and cancer?

The salt content of pickled vegetables is relatively high, of which sauerkraut contains 0-4% salt, pickles 10%-14%, sauce Pickles are 8%-14%, sweet and sour dishes are 1%-3%. According to the recommendation of the Chinese Nutrition Society, the daily salt intake of adults should not exceed 6 grams. Long-term high-salt diet will bring health risks to the body.

1. Gastric cancer

long-term high-salt diet Causes high osmotic pressure between gastric mucosal cells and the outside world, leading to direct damage to gastric mucosa, resulting in extensive diffuse congestion, edema, erosion and ulcers and other lesions. There is an increased risk of mucosal cells becoming cancerous.

In addition, excessive salt intake will also reduce gastric acid secretion, thereby inhibiting the synthesis of prostaglandin E in the body, resulting in a decrease in the defense ability of the gastric mucosa and increasing the incidence of gastric lesions and gastric cancer. Risk occurs.

2. Hypertension

A high-salt diet not only increases the risk of stomach cancer, but also increases the risk of cause high blood pressure. Epidemiological data show that the number of deaths caused by cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events in my country accounts for 45% of the total number of deaths. 49% of coronary heart disease and 62% of strokes are caused by high blood pressure, while 50% of high blood pressure is caused by eating too much salt or too much sodium.

Yang Jin, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences said that Chinese people’s diets have serious health problems. In the case of excessive salt, the average salt intake of the southern population is 8-10 grams, and the northern population is 12-15 grams, both far exceeding the World Health Organization recommended standard, which is also one of the key reasons for the high blood pressure among Chinese people.

After high-salt food enters the body, the osmotic pressure of the blood will increase, and people will feel thirsty and drink more water. Once more, blood pressure will rise.

It should be noted that eating pickles does not necessarily lead to high blood pressure and cancer, because the incidence of high blood pressure and cancer is a combination of many factors. The result of the effect, including age, heredity, living habits, environment, etc., the premise of cancer is generally long-term, large amount, occasionally eating pickles , generally not a problem.

Second, why the older generation often eat pickles because of poverty, but rarely get high blood pressure, cancer?

In the past, the older generation seldom ate fresh vegetables due to their hard life and lack of food, but ate more pickles. Since it is mentioned above that pickles increase the risk of high blood pressure and cancer, why do they often eat pickles but rarely get high blood pressure and cancer? The main reasons are as follows:

1. Now the average life expectancy has increased

in In the 1950s, the average life expectancy in my country was only about 50 years old. And now, according to data released by the National Health Commission, the average life expectancy in my country has reached 77.3 years.

The older you are, the greater your risk of elevated blood pressure. With age,more and more deposits (such as lipids) build up on the lining of blood vessels, and the walls of blood vessels thicken, harden, and lose their elasticity. The cavity can also become narrow. Cells in the body need blood to carry nutrients and oxygen. If the cells are ischemia, they will be deprived of oxygen, and the heart will pressurize to avoid cell death, which may lead to high blood pressure.

Similarly, the older you are, the greater your risk of developing cancer. Every organ in the body ages with age, and immune organs such as the bone marrow, thymus, spleen, and lymph nodes are no exception. The function of immune organs will be worse year after year, and the number of immune cells produced will gradually decrease. Immunity will be reduced, leading to repeated infections in the body, and even diseases such as malignant tumors.

2. Now there are more ways for people to consume extra salt

56 In the 1900s, due to the constraints of the times, the economy and other conditions, there were fewer types of food to choose from, even though some foods were high in salt, The overall salt intake is not very large.

Modern people’s diet not only has many dishes, high salt content, and more condiments, but also has more ways to consume additional salt, including many snacks, such as potato chips , these foods often contain large amounts of sodium. Therefore, people not only consume salt from three meals, but also eat a lot of salt at ordinary times, and it is easy to have excessive intake of salt.

3. Now people eat more finely strong>

People in the 1950s and 1960s mainly used miscellaneousGrain and potatoes are the staple food, and some vegetables and fruits are also eaten every day. Although the salty vegetables eaten are high in salt, the potassium content of coarse grains, vegetables and fruits is also very rich, which can balance the sodium and potassium levels in the body, and potassium has the effect of promoting sodium excretion, so their intake of salt content is relatively low.

The staple food of modern people is mainly fine grains such as white rice and noodles. These refined grains also contain a certain amount of sodium, and the potassium intake from food is not as much as before. When the salt intake is high, the sodium and potassium levels in the body cannot be balanced, which will lead to an increase in sodium content.

4. The amount of manual labor is reduced now

The amount of manual labor in the 1950s and 1960s Because the problem of food and clothing has not been solved, and in preparation for industrialization, most people need to work in the fields at this time, one is to maintain a living, and the other is to produce. When people sweat like rain in the fields, the salt in the body will also be excreted with the sweat, So the loss of salt will be more.

Modern people are mostly office workers, sitting in their seats for a long time watching the computer, typing, rarely exercising after work, and eating every day. It’s very salty, so it’s easy to overdo it.

Third, who should eat less pickles?

Pickles are not completely inedible, but they cannot be eaten often, and should be eaten in moderation, and some people suggest that it is best to eat less or not.

1. Patients with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases such as hypertension and kidney disease

Pickles are generally pickled with salt and are high-salt foods. For patients with heart disease and kidney disease such as high blood pressure, their dietary guidelines recommend a low-salt diet, and eating pickles can easily affect their condition.

2, Digestive system cancer, disease patients

Data from epidemiological studies It shows that the high incidence of gastric cancer, esophageal cancer and other digestive system cancers in some areas is related to the long-term eating habits of pickled vegetables. Therefore, it is recommended that people with a family history of digestive system cancer and a history of disease should reduce the intake of high-salt foods such as pickles.

3, the elderly, children, pregnant women

The salt content of pickles is high and excessive Ingestion will increase the burden on the kidneys, and the kidney function itself of the elderly is relatively weak, so it is not recommended to eat pickles. In addition, due to nutrient intake considerations, pregnant women and children are advised to avoid eating pickles as much as possible.

nitrite content in pickles, Sodium content is high. For the sake of the body, it is recommended not to eat it for a long time, and try not to eat it as much as possible. If you really like eating pickles and cannot do without pickles, then it is recommended to buy pickles that meet the national standards from regular channels such as large supermarkets.

If you pickle pickles at home, the pickling time must be sufficient. It is best to wait for 20 days before eating. At this time, the nitrite content of pickles will be minimized, and no matter what. No matter how delicious the pickles are, the frequency and amount of consumption must be reduced.

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