Having high blood pressure puts you at risk for heart disease and stroke, which are leading causes of death in the United States. About 75 million American adults (32%) have high blood pressure—that is one in every three adults. Only about half (54%) of people with high blood pressure have their condition under control. High blood pressure was also a primary or contributing cause of death for more than 410,000 Americans in 2014—that is more than 1,100 deaths each day, according to the Center for Disease Control. These alarming statistics were the reason why the Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Agent provided a program for adults about how to cook with herbs.

Most of the sodium we consume is in the form of salt, and the vast majority of sodium we consume is in processed and restaurant foods. Your body needs a small amount of sodium to work properly, but too much sodium is bad for your health. Excess sodium can increase your blood pressure and your risk for a heart disease and stroke. The Cooking with Herbs class demonstrated how fresh and dried herbs could be used in place of salt. Most people do not use herbs and spices to flavor food because they are not familiar with all the options and how to use them. 

The class discussed the many types of herbs, how to grow your own, how to store them, difference in using dried compared to fresh and what herbs are best paired with certain foods. After the class, majority of the participants were planning to grow their own herbs, try herbs in place of salt when cooking and making a more conscience effort to cut back their sodium intake.