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The world's heaviest woman is thought to be fighting for her life as her sister has made the sensational claim that she 'has not lost any weight'.

Eman Ahmed's sibling says that her sister is not getting the treatment she needs from Dr Muffazal Lakdwala and his team at the Saifee Hospital in Mumbai.

Eman, from Egypt, weighed 78.7 stone when was flown to India for a Laparoscopic Sleeve Gasterectomy.

Just one month after her surgery, doctors said the 36-year-old had shed half her entire body weight .

But her sister, Shaimaa Selim, has said that the reports are lies, and that her sister is now extremely sick.

In an interview with Indian media, Shaimaa said: "She is really helpless. Pray for her to leave this place safely.

"People aren't good here. Doctor Muffazal cheated on us.

"He promised us that she will lose weight. Eman has been destroyed. She cannot eat properly now.

"She has been operated on only for show."

Shaimaa also claimed that her sister doesn't talk, is unable to move, and "looks bluish".

She added: "I repeat, everything was a lie. Eman did not lose 240 kilo or 260 kilo. Eman [has been] in this critical situation for one and a half months."

But doctors at the hospital refuted these claims during a press conference.

Chief surgeon Aparna Bhaskar said: "Eman is absolutely fine. She lost over 250kgs in the past three months.

"From our side, everything is fine. She is fit to be discharged. Though she needs some neurological treatment for the stroke she had three years ago, but that can be treated in Egypt as well.

"Eman's sister, Shaimaa, doesn't want to take her sister home as she knows the treatment won't be free there."

The 36-year-old tipped the scales at 78.7 stone and was so heavy she needed to travel on a cargo flight to India for her treatment at the Saifee Hospital in Mumbai.

She had to be winched into the medical facility for her surgery earlier this year where she underwent the 90-minute bariatric procedure which reduced her stomach size by three-quarters.

Medics discovered Eman had been suffering from a rare genetic disorder that told her body she was always hungry.

Eman was born weighing a hefty 11lbs and was later diagnosed with elephantiasis, a parasitic disease.

Her growing obesity also led to sleep apnea, hypothyroidism, diabetes, high blood pressure, kidney problems and fluid retention.

By the time she was 11, Eman was too heavy to walk and became bedridden, spending 25 years unable to stand up.

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World's heaviest woman is fighting for her life as sister claims she 'hasn't lost ANY weight' - Mirror.co.uk

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We all know of herbs and other natural remedies that can help improve our memory and boost our libido, but could there be a similar solution for burning fat?

7 WEIGHT LOSS ROADBLOCKS IN YOUR OFFICE

On Twitter, we got that exact question from a viewer, and the answer is that yes, other than exercise, you can help burn fat by adding certain foods to your diet.

Here are a handful:

Bone broth Kellyann Petrucci, M.S., N.D., a weight loss expert, told Fox News that bone broth is one worlds oldest healing foods and can be especially effective when it comes to weight loss. Its power, she said, lies in the fact that it contains lysine, an anti-inflammatory agent known to aid fat burning.

Petrucci offered this tip: Two days a week, do something called mini fasting that's where you sip on nothing but bone broth two days a week, have a light meal about 7 oclock, and that will even heighten your fat-burning power.

6 MORNING HABITS THAT CAN BOOST YOUR WEIGHT LOSS SUCCESS

Turmeric Studies show this super-spice can not only boost your body temperature, which can speed metabolism, but it can also improve your memory.

Cinnamon Next time you pour your morning cup of coffee or whip up a breakfast smoothie, consider adding a dash of cinnamon. Thats because the spice can help regulate your blood sugar helping you avoid that dreaded 3 p.m. crash and control your appetite, to boot. Plus, like turmeric, cinnamon can warm your body to boost your metabolism.

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Ginger You likely turn to this spice when you have a bellyache, but it turns out that ginger is also a powerful natural solution for weight loss. In fact, studies suggest adding this spice to your diet can increase your fat burning by 20 percent.

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Lose weight naturally with these 4 easy remedies - Fox News

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Women's Health

These Are The Best Beers To Drink If You're Trying To Lose Weight Women's Health Naturally, the best way to stay on the wagon (at least, when it comes to your calorie intake) is to plan ahead, steering clear of the brewskies that can do the most damage to your waistline, says Lockwood. (Learn how bone broth can help you lose weight ...

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These Are The Best Beers To Drink If You're Trying To Lose Weight - Women's Health

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EO file photo

Sagar Sathuvalli, a potato breeder with Oregon State Universitys Hermiston Agricultural Research and Extension Center, shows off potato varieties in November 2014.

EO file photo

Michaela Ewing flips potato flatbread while grilling it for the crop up dinner at HAREC in August 2016 in Hermiston.

The U.S. potato industry has taken umbrage with a popular dietary fad, which is based on the premise that humans ate healthier during the Stone Age than following the advent of agriculture.

The Paleolithic diet coined by Colorado State University emeritus professor Loren Cordain promotes foods that would have been available to hunter-gatherers more than 10,000 years ago, such as grass-fed meat, wild game, nuts, fruits and non-starchy vegetables.

In addition to processed foods and salt, the popular diet frowns upon some of the major commodities produced in the Northwest, including potatoes, cereals, dairy, sugar and legumes. Cordain reasons the foods werent present during the Paleolithic Period, and humans, therefore, havent adapted to eating them.

Cordain vows Paleo dieters achieve weight loss, reduced diabetes and diseases, increased energy, fewer allergies, better digestion and increased muscle. Critics counter that modern foods, developed over centuries of selective breeding, dont resemble Paleolithic foods. They also note the diets conspicuous absence of Stone Age dietary staples such as rats, mice, squirrels, stripped bark, insects and lizards and question the wisdom of emulating an ancient people who typically died in their 30s.

The potato industry still seeking to improve consumer perceptions affected by the low-carbohydrate Atkins diet craze recently launched a campaign highlighting the importance of the spuds protein, vitamin C, potassium and carbohydrates to athletic performance.

I think a lot of people are really getting tired of all of these really restrictive diets and are more interested in learning how to eat properly in a way they can work into their lifestyle, based on the basic ideas of moderation and good diversity, said John Toaspern, chief marketing officer with Potatoes USA.

The organization has been publicizing a paper critical of the Paleo diet, published in the December issue of the American College of Sports Medicines Health and Fitness Journal. The author, Katherine Beals, an associate professor in Utah State Universitys Department of Nutrition and Integrated Sociology, has consulted for Potatoes USA in the past, though her paper wasnt commissioned by the industry.

During the peak of the Atkins diets popularity, Beals conducted a clinical study finding its benefits were short-lived, and werent sustainable beyond a year. She has similar suspicions about the Paleo diet, and her recent paper found no scientific basis to support eating like a caveman.

Beals, who serves on the committee that ranks the best and worst diets for U.S. News & World Report, recommends diets that dont restrict food groups, but rather promote consuming a broad variety of foods in moderation. She emphasizes exercise is often overlooked in diets, and peoples survival depended on being active in the Stone Age.

I find it irritating that people are making money off of unsuspecting consumers that are truly looking for a way to become healthier and lose weight, Beals said.

Cordain, who credits his mentor Dr. S. Boyd Eaton with developing the concept for the Paleo diet in a 1985 landmark paper, said 25 scientific reviews confirm its long-term effectiveness.

Millions of people worldwide have been following the Paleo diet for more than a decade, suggesting that it is indeed sustainable and healthful, Cordain said.

Cordain points out that USDA-sanctioned vegan diets also restrict entire food groups, and USDA guidelines support Paleo diet goals of reducing consumption of refined grains and sugars, as well as processed foods. Furthermore, he said the vitamin content of wild and domestic plant and animal foods is nearly identical.

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Potato industry targets trendy Paleo diet - East Oregonian (subscription)

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MATTOON -- To start your spring off in the right direction think about doing some spring cleaning for your health. Kristina Adams Smith, Registered Dietitian and Director of Sarah Bush Lincoln's Weight Management Program offers some options to help with your healthy spring cleaning as those New Year resolutions may have fizzled out.

What better time to revisit and evaluate your health and make plans to jump back in the game. One program that can get you jump started is the weight loss program offered by Sarah Bush Lincoln that utilizes the HMR Weight Management method which was ranked number one by U.S. News & World Report as the Best Fast Weight-Loss Program for 2017 and for the third year in a row as one of the Best Weight-Loss Diets in the country. This program has multiple options to choose from that can best suit your needs, both in clinic and at home. When thinking of the best way to get started on your spring cleaning, consider these tips to help get you going:

All of these tips are also the basis of the weight loss program at Sarah Bush Lincoln, so while there is no magic pill that can substitute for a healthy eating plan paired with moderate intensity physical activity, the goal is to make small changes and get these changes to develop into a lifestyle, so spring for a new you.

For more information, contact Kristina D. Adams MS, RD, LDN, Certified Food Safety Manager, Director of Weight Management and Wellness at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health System at 217-238-4774 or at weightmanagement@sblhs.org.

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SBL Weight Management Program offers tips for spring weight loss - Journal Gazette and Times-Courier

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Days gone by: Clive Palmer eats Tim Tams while on the campaign trail in 2013. Picture: Dave Hunt

HIS political party is not the only thing Clive Palmer has shed in the past year.

The rapidly shrinking mining magnate was snapped at Broadbeach on the Gold Coast on Anzac Day looking a shadow of his former self.

The one-time larger-than-life political figure confirmed to news.com.au in a brief statement on Wednesday that he has lost an impressive 58kg since embarking on his strict weight loss regimen about eight months ago.

Clive Palmer at Broadbeach on Anzac Day. He now weighs less than 95kg, he says. Picture: Mega AgencySource:Supplied

When he began his healthy eating regimen in July last year, he tipped the scales at 153kg, he said.

Now, he weighs just less than 95kg just five kilograms from his goal weight

The father-of-four, including two-year-old Lucy and seven-year-old Mary with his second wife Anna, said his young family was a big motivation behind the dramatic weight loss.

Ive got a two-year-old daughter and Ive got a strong obligation to help her live life, he said.

Im 62 now, at 153kg I was pushing it uphill on the long term.

In the early days of his weight loss journey, Mr Palmer regularly posted to social media that weight loss company Lite N Easy was helping him achieve his goals, and credited them with teaching him about portion control.

Clive Palmer at his Palmer Coolum Resort in 2014.Source:News Corp Australia

In an interview with news.com.au late last year, he said he also cut down his meat consumption, swapped his favourite soft drink ginger beer for the diet version and cut back on sauces.

The former federal member for the Sunshine Coast seat of Fairfax said while his young daughters motivated him, he simply, put his mind to it to muster the willpower to cut back.

First up you have to say, Im going to keep doing it (diet) for six months, he said.

Mentally, youve got to make the decision to make a commitment, realise the gravity. Youve got to implement it as a discipline.

If you make that commitment upfront you wont be undermining yourself every day.

Secondly, I thought, well how much do I eat every day and how much should I eat?

I limited my portions, rather than worrying whats on your plate, I went to Lite n Easy who gave me all my measures.

He credits his weight loss largely with learning portion control.Source:News Limited

Nearly 60kg down, he said he is reaping the benefits of his dramatic weight loss.

Im feeling a lot better, feeling the benefits, spending more time engaging with people. Theyre all things I couldnt do before, he said.

Mr Palmers weight loss has come amid a tumultuous year for the man who, as leader of the Palmer United Party, once touted himself as Australias next Prime Minister.

Clive Palmer's nephew and wife signed a deal to build a $135m coal mine, days before the Qld nickel failed.

He decided not to recontest Fairfax at the 2016 federal election, amid predictions of an epic loss.

He has been in and out of courtrooms all year, both giving evidence in the collapse of his Townsville nickel refinery in the Federal Court probe into its administration, and in his High Court application to have the proceedings blocked.

Queensland Nickel dramatically went into receivership in 2016, leaving approximately 800 workers without jobs.

Late last year, his Palmer United Party, which enjoyed its peak success at the 2013 election before spectacularly imploding, was deregistered in Queensland, before the final nail in the coffin came just last week, when it was deregistered nationally.

The mining magnate has also raised eyebrows in recent months with a series of bizarre social media postings, often in the form of memes targeting Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten.

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The incredible shrinking Clive Palmer: 60kg down and still going - NEWS.com.au

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Strokes are the fifth leading cause of death in America and a leading cause of adult disability. A stroke may also be known as a cerebrovascular accident (CVA), brain attack, hemorrhagic stroke and/or ischemic stroke. A mini-stroke is known as a transient ischemic attack (TIA). All these titles refer to the basic pathology of when blood flow to an area of brain is cut off. When this happens, brain cells are deprived of oxygen and begin to die. This may sound similar to a heart attack to some of you (myocardial infarction). Sudden bleeding in the brain can also cause a stroke if it damages brain cells. If brain cells die or are damaged because of a stroke, symptoms occur in the parts of the body that these brain cells control.

Inspiration for this article came from the recent news I read on local rancher, Jim Ellingson. He and his family are all too familiar with strokes and their aftermath. After seeing so many stroke patients over the years, a resounding question I often hear are how could this happen? The following statistics come from the Center for Disease Control (CDC):

1. Strokes kill more than 130,000 Americans each yearthats 1 out of every 20 deaths.

2. Someone in the United States has a stroke every 40 seconds. Every 4 minutes, someone dies of stroke.

3. Every year, more than 795,000 people in the United States have a stroke. About 610,000 of these are first or new strokes.

4. Stroke is a leading cause of serious long-term disability. Stroke reduces mobility in more than half of stroke survivors age 65 and over.

5. About 87 percent of all strokes are ischemic strokes, in which blood flow to the brain is blocked.

Despite advances in health technology and access to care, you can clearly see that based on the above statistics, strokes are still a major medical concern and education to the public is still pertinent to ensure those with symptoms or risks seek medical treatment. Who is at risk for stroke? Risk of stroke is much higher in African Americans than Caucasians. African Americans are also more likely to die from a stroke. Stroke risks rise with age but can occur at any age. According to the CDC, in 2009 34% of those hospitalized with a stroke were under 65 years of age. High blood pressure (Hypertension), high cholesterol and smoking remain the top risks for causing a stroke. There are many other risks as well such as family history of stroke, diabetes, and heart disease and brain aneurysms. Risk factors that are in your control to modify include the following: alcohol and illegal drug abuse, obesity, lack of physical exercise, unhealthy diet and stress.

What do you do if you have any of the risks factors listed? Up to 80% of strokes are preventable. I would recommend you discuss these risks and concerns with your healthcare provider. They can help you develop a plan to monitor ongoing health issues as well as identify and control new ones. This may be done through monitoring your weight and blood pressure or performing blood work to identify presence of diabetes or high cholesterol. If abnormal sounds are heard in the arteries of your neck, an ultrasound may be ordered. Never start an aspirin regimen without first discussing it with your healthcare provider. The best thing you can do for yourself is to get physically active, work on smoking cessation, modify your alcohol intake, aim for a healthy weight, manage your stress levels and eat a heart healthy diet. Healthy weight loss is slow and steady with long-term habit changes. There are no reliable and long-term successful fad diets out there. A diet higher in fresh fruits, vegetables and lean meats are suggested. Eat less processed foods like chips, cookies, ice cream, hot dogs etc. The external aisles of the grocery store are where most of your fresh foods are. Some may lower stress by being physically active, yoga, or even counseling to name a few.

What are the symptoms of a stroke? Stroke symptoms are typically very sudden in onset and may present as:

1. Sudden confusion, trouble speaking, or understanding

2. Sudden numbness or weakness of face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body

3. Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes

4. Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination

5. Sudden severe headache with no known cause

FAST is an easy way to remember and identify the most common symptoms of a stroke.

F: FACE: Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?

A: ARMS: Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

S: SPEECH: Ask the person to repeat a simple phrase. Is their speech slurred or strange?

T: TIME: If you observe any of these signs, call 9-1-1 immediately.

Note the time of onset of the first symptom. This information is important and can affect treatment decisions.

The public has become more educated in understanding that time is valuable in treating a heart attack. The same applies to a stroke. We have a saying in the healthcare field and that is, time is tissue. Brain death can occur within minutes from lack of blood flow or oxygen. Treatment of the stroke depends on the cause and other medical conditions you have. I recommend you keep an updated list of your medications in your wallet and perhaps a close family member or friends as well. This will help determine if you are a candidate for certain stroke treatments. In the event of a stroke, you will be in the hospital to stabilize your condition and often rehab directly afterwards to help you work through any deficits that have been caused by the stroke.

Many resources exist out there to get more information. I recommend the CDC at cdc.gov or the National Stroke Association at stroke.org. Most of all, remember to act FAST if you or someone you are with, are having symptoms. Modify the risks you have control over by making gradual lifestyle changes. Work with your healthcare provider on other risks or perhaps even to prevent a subsequent stroke.

Questions and or comments regarding this weeks health column please contact, Katherine Herczeg, MSN, APRN at Bitterroot Physicians Clinic South, a service of Marcus Daly Memorial Hospital, 3334 DVN Lane, Darby, MT 59829, a service of Marcus Daly Memorial Hospital. Working together to build a healthier community!

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About Medicine: Stroke? Think FAST - Ravalli Republic

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And shes anxious to share her answers with anyone who wants to slim down and live a healthier life.

Since she became a member of TOPS Take Off Pounds Sensibly Stout has lost exactly 100 pounds, looks years younger and is much more active. And although she has lost all the weight she needs to, Stout continues to attend TOPS meetings because she finds the support of the members of the local chapter help her maintain her healthy lifestyle.

Stout is eager to encourage people to take the important first step to losing weight and supporting them through the journey. As the wife of Carter County pastor Bobby Stout of Pleasant Beach Baptist Church, she has always been an encourager for the congregation and those seeking help.

But being the wife of a pastor also makes it hard to stay slim.

The years of church dinners with so many homemade delicious foods certainly was tempting. The Stouts busy lifestyle also caused them to eat many meals in restaurants.

As a result, Stout decided she had to do something about her weight. She was wearing a 2X, needing a petite. She was using an inhaler twice a day and wore a c-pap machine at night.

After the weight loss, Stout now wears a 6 petite, and as for the breathing aids: "now I am free of both, which has been a blessing."

She began attending TOPS in 1995 and immediately began losing weight quickly, but her first effort would prove unsuccessful. "I neglected to attend the weekly meetings, which was the worst mistake that I could make. As a result, I gradually gained all my weight back, and more."

She decided to make another try at the age of 71 and a weight of 225.4 pounds.

"I decided that if I was to get my weight off once again, now was the time to return to my TOPS Chapter, she said. After being away for several years and realizing help was definitely needed for my weight loss journey, I joined TOPS once again on May 4, 2015. I was welcomed with warm smiles and open arms by everyone."

Stout knew she had to change her eating habits, but also she needed to get more exercise. She joined the Wellness Center in Elizabethton and began walking. "At first, I could only walk one-half mile, but it wasn't very long until I was walking two miles each day."

She now walks five or six times a week, and if she has a meal with more calories than normal, she increases her exercise. She also began riding a bike for the first time in 50 years.

Stout said the Food Exchange Program provided the structure she needed for healthy, balanced meals. "My meals consisted of protein, vegetables, fruit and bread, which kept me from actually getting hungry. I avoided desserts and eating between meals, which was the most difficult change I had to make. Drinking lots of water and saying 'goodbye' to soft drinks became very helpful.

She said her motto became "Eat to Live, and not live to eat."

Her husband had always been accepting of her weight, but he became her No. 1 cheerleader when she went on her diet.

"I told her 'Honey, it doesn't make any difference to me what you weigh, I still love you. If you have to waddle into heaven, I will still love you,' " he said.

"My husband was my biggest cheerleader along my journey, always asking me when I returned from my weekly meetings how much weight I had lost. He knew how important that was for me."

One of her biggest challenges had to do with their roles in the local church.

"Church socials and holiday festivities definitely posed a tremendous challenge, too, but I had to realize that my journey to success must be determined by me. So, I tried to look for healthy choices at those events and talk myself out of going to the dessert table. When I was successful, it would make me smile and feel good."

Her husband said she combined her self discipline with love. "She would still go into the kitchen and make all the things our family loves, but she wouldn't take any herself," Bobby Stout said.

In addition to her loving husband, Stout said she had the support of her friends in TOPS. "My success could not have been possible without the encouragement I received from my chapter friends."

By Feb. 22, 2016, Stout said she had lost 95.4 pounds and became a KOP, Keep off Pounds Sensibly. "I still get teary eyed just thinking of that moment in my life."

She lost an additional five pounds, bringing her total weight loss to 100 pounds. She said she was able to keep the weight off this time "because my TOPS family is definitely my security blanket."

The highlight of her success came this month, on April 8, when she was crowned TOPS Tennessee State Queen. "I feel my TOPS chapter family should be privileged to wear the crown instead of me because without their support I would not have succeeded.

She said she usually doesn't boast, but she feels that by discussing her success in public that she can encourage others to begin their own weight loss journey.

"Today, my success story can only be told because I claimed Phillippians 4:13, 'I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.' "

She said "God used my TOPS chapter members to encourage me every step of the way."

Stout invited everyone who would like to lose weight to join her at her TOPS chapter meetings, held every Monday at First Baptist Church, 212 E. F St. Weigh in time is from 5:30 to 6:30, followed by the meeting.

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Janice Stout loses 100 pounds, gains a crown - Johnson City Press (subscription)

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Sometimes the guidance and help of a professional can be especially motivating when it comes to weight loss. Medi-Weightloss Austin wants to help you find your healthiest self. Shantell Shipp is a nurse practitioners withMedi-Weightloss Austin and shedropped inwith patient Tonna De Maet with more.Austin residents now have convenient access to a powerful, proven system to help them lose weight while improving their overall health. Medi-Weightloss, a fast-growing company with more than 90 locations nationwide, opened its first Austin location in February 2016 at 13359 Highway 183 North Suite 403 in Austin. Call 512-867-6200 today to schedule your FREE assessment.

Medi-Weightloss offers a physician-supervised, individually tailored weight loss system known as The One That Works! for its comprehensive approach to weight management and established record of success Medi-Weightloss patients have lost over 3 million pounds nationwide! Medi-Weightloss patients experience one-on-one education and coaching on nutrition, behavior modifications, and exercise to help patients lose weight and keep it off for a lifetime. So far, patients in Austin have lost over 2,000 pounds!

Patients at the Austin location will receive care under the supervision of Dr. Wendy Lankford. In my experience, Ive seen more overweight and obese people every day, and I know the impact that has on their health. Thats why I wanted to become part of the Medi-Weightloss team, Lankford said. I feel the Medi-Weightloss program really provides the right tools to help people lose weight safely and keep it off. It works because it incorporates a medically guided weight loss program with nutrition, exercise and accountability.

An assessment is provided free of charge, with no obligation. Once an individualized program has been established, the Medi-Weightloss program includes weekly one-on-one consultations focusing on nutrition, lifestyle and exercise. Education is provided on how to lose weight in the real world using real food, without the need for pre-packaged meals. Once their weight loss goals have been achieved, patients learn how to keep it off for life through a specialized Wellness Phase. In addition to clinically proven weight loss programs, Medi-Weightloss offers specialized weight loss programs for adolescents and diabetics, as well as free Worksite Wellness Workshops for companies in the area.

Sponsored by Medi-Weightloss Austin. Opinions expressed by guests on this program are solely those of the guest(s) and are not endorsed by this television station.

KXAN.com provides commenting to allow for constructive discussion on the stories we cover. In order to comment here, you acknowledge you have read and agreed to our Terms of Service. Users who violate these terms, including use of vulgar language or racial slurs, will be banned. If you see an inappropriate comment, please flag it for our moderators to review.

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From size 18 to size 8 with a Weight Loss Program that Works! - KXAN.com

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By Dennis Thompson

HealthDay Reporter

TUESDAY, April 25, 2017 (HealthDay News) -- Steering clear of salty foods might not be as helpful for your heart health as previously thought, a new study claims.

Participants in a long-range heart study did not appear to derive any health advantage from a low-salt diet, said lead researcher Lynn Moore.

"People who were on a lower-sodium [salt] diet in general over the next 20 or 30 years actually had no benefit, specifically in terms of their blood pressure or their risk of developing heart disease," said Moore, an associate professor with the Boston University School of Medicine.

On the other hand, these people did enjoy better health when they increased their intake of potassium, a mineral that helps the heart in a couple of ways, Moore and her colleagues found.

"Higher intakes of potassium were strongly associated with both a lower blood pressure and a lower risk of heart disease," Moore said. "The same was true for magnesium."

But before you reach for the shaker, consider that a leading proponent of low-sodium diets, the American Heart Association (AHA), questioned the study's validity and said it would continue to recommend limiting salt intake.

"When there are really well-conducted clinical trials that show a direct and progressive relationship between sodium and blood pressure, I would pause before I did anything based on what's reported in this abstract," said AHA spokeswoman Cheryl Anderson. She's an associate professor of cardiovascular epidemiology with the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine.

The AHA recommends no more than 2,300 milligrams -- about a teaspoon -- of sodium a day, and an ideal limit of no more than 1,500 milligrams (mg) daily for most adults.

Moore said her results show that Americans' average sodium intake -- around 3,000 to 3,500 milligrams (mg) a day -- should be healthy, particularly if they also get enough potassium and magnesium.

"There seems to be no real added risk in that range," Moore said. "I think the average American is probably doing OK in terms of sodium, but almost all Americans need to increase their intake of potassium."

Foods rich in potassium include dark leafy greens, potatoes, beans, squash, yogurt, salmon, avocados, mushrooms and bananas.

The new study comes on the heels of another controversial paper published last May. It suggested that restricting dietary salt to less than 3,000 mg a day appeared to increase the risk of heart disease as much as eating more than 7,000 mg a day. The AHA also disputed the earlier study, which appeared in The Lancet.

Moore's findings are based on data from more than 2,600 men and women participating in the Framingham Heart Study, a long-range heart health study of people from Framingham, Mass.

Participants had normal blood pressure at the study's start. But, over the next 16 years, those who consumed less than 2,500 milligrams of sodium a day tended to have higher blood pressure than participants who consumed more sodium, the researchers reported.

The investigators also found that people with higher intake of potassium, calcium and magnesium had lower long-term blood pressure.

But the research team relied on six days of detailed dietary records to estimate people's intake of sodium and other various minerals, which is a relatively unreliable method, Anderson said.

The gold standard for tracking sodium levels is through urine samples taken across multiple days, she said. Food diaries can be inaccurate.

"They may not have captured sodium intake accurately," Anderson said.

The study's positive results regarding potassium have been supported by other studies, Anderson added.

Potassium helps the kidneys flush salt from the body, reducing blood levels of sodium, Moore said.

The mineral also helps relax the blood vessels and make them more flexible, which can help lower blood pressure, Moore and Anderson said.

People who consume a lot of salt -- 5,000 milligrams per day -- should cut back, Moore said.

Also, "for that subset of the population that's sensitive to salt in the diet, a really critical thing is how much they're getting of other minerals, in particular potassium but perhaps magnesium as well," Moore said.

Moore was scheduled to present her findings Tuesday at the American Society for Nutrition's annual meeting, in Chicago. The results should be considered preliminary until the data is peer-reviewed for publication in a medical journal.

WebMD News from HealthDay

SOURCES: Lynn Moore, D.Sc., associate professor, Boston University School of Medicine; Cheryl Anderson, Ph.D., associate professor, cardiovascular epidemiology, University of California, San Diego School of Medicine; April 25, 2017, American Society for Nutrition, annual meeting, Chicago

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Is a Low-Salt Diet Always Healthy? - WebMD

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