Salt is a flavouring agent that is used around the world and in all cuisines. It is a source of essential nutrients such as sodium, chlorine, and iodine which help conduct never impulses and sustain the proper balance of minerals and water in the body. Salt is also used as a food preservative, texture enhancer, flavour enhancer, binder, and colour enhancer in food.
A healthy adult human body contains about 250 grams of salt and any excess is naturally excreted by the body. Sodium present in salt acts as an electrolyte and regulated the electrical charges moving in and out of the cells in the body. It also controls our ability to taste, smell, and tactile processes.
Chlorine, which is also present in salt, plays a fundamental role in the digestion process. It preserves the acid-base balance in the body and even aids potassium absorption. It also enhances the ability of the blood in our body to carry carbon dioxide from repairing tissues to the lungs.
However, salt is excessively used in junk foods and savoury snacks. Therefore, consuming such foods too often can lead to an excess of salt in our bodies which can have many side effects. Let’s check them out.
Bloating- Our body removes the excess water by filtering our blood through the kidneys. Sodium and potassium facilitate this process as oy pulls water from across the bloodstream and into a collecting channel in the kidney. When we eat large quantities of salt, our blood sodium levels increase and the kidneys compensate for this by retaining fluid to normalize and balance levels. This leads to bloating and puffiness of the abdominal region.
Persistent thirst and frequent urination- When we eat a lot of salt, our blood sodium levels increase and in order to bring it back to the normal level, we must drink a lot of water. Therefore, we end up feeling persistently thirsty when we eat too much salt. And this can lead to frequent urination as well since you have to drink a lot of water to bring balance to the sodium levels in your bloodstream.
Leads to high blood pressure- High levels of sodium in the bloodstream affects the kidney’s ability to remove excess water from the body and this leads to an increase in blood volume which places a lot of stress on the blood vessels. This results in high blood pressure which can eventually lead to stroke and congestive heart failure.
Disturbed sleep pattern- Studies show that eating extremely salty food right before going to bed can lead to disturbances in sleep patterns because it will make you thirsty throughout the night which will lead to urinating frequently as well.
Increases risk of stomach cancer- Studies have shown that excessive consumption of salt can significantly increase the risk of developing stomach cancer. Experts believe that salt-rich diets increase a person’s vulnerability to ulcers or inflammation of the stomach lining as well.
Mild headaches- Excessive consumption of salt can lead to dehydration which induces mild headaches. This can be easily treated by drinking water quickly.
A balanced diet is rich in minerals and vitamins. And other than salt there are many other natural sources of sodium and chlorine. Therefore, the World Health Organization recommends not exceeding the salt intake of 1.5 grams a day. People that suffer from diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and high blood pressure should practice caution and eat even less than 1.5 grams of salt. New parents are also advised to not give their children, under the age of one, salt because their kidneys are not fully matured.
