“Stop using salt. It will raise blood pressure.” Ever hear this before?

One of salt’s major purposes is to regulate the volume of blood and its pressure as well as  the flexibility of the blood vessels.   The human heart is a big pump. When it contracts, it forces blood through the arteries of the circulatory system; that pressure is “systolic,” the “top” number. Between heartbeats, the heart relaxes. Pressure measured between heartbeats is “diastolic,” the “bottom” number. When blood volume increases or the blood vessel walls don’t expand enough, blood pressure increases. Normal blood pressure is less than 130/85 according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.  In a population,  blood pressures are a good indicator of the incidence of cardiovascular events like heart attacks and strokes. The standard, accepted approach is that public policy should demand reduced sodium intakes to lower population blood pressure and, with it, the risk of heart attacks and strokes. But how accurate is this statement?

According to the medical studies done in Cornell Medical School’s Hypertensive Institute, particularly the famous “Intersalt study” with over 10,000 participants around the world, it was clearly shown that salt intake has nothing to do with an increase in blood pressure.

The major cause?

Obesity.

Older men with lower levels of the male sex hormone testosterone in their blood may be more prone to depression, a study suggests. A study of about 4,000 men aged over 70 found those with lowest testosterone were three times more likely to be depressed than those with the most.

Researchers suspect the hormone may affect levels of key brain chemicals. The study, by the University of Western Australia, features in Archives of General Psychiatry. Research has found that women are more likely to be depressed than men until the age of 65, when the difference between the genders almost disappears.

We often read about taking this supplement for that issue or avoiding XYZ foods etc., and often neglect the most important, powerful tools at our disposal - Our minds, that which we use to create our life.

Here is a deceptively simple exercise to assist in building and achieving your dream life.

Part 1. Ask your inner self or Inner Spirit what you want to be, do and have. Take as much time to connect and to write down the answers. Stop here and do this prior to reading Part 2.

Part 2. Now write down what would be even better than what you have already selected.

It is very awakening to see the difference between the two. The only questions remain are . . .which of the 2 do you want and are you willing to take action.

If there were dreams to sell, what would you buy?