Salt is a staple in many cuisines around the world, and it is a key component in making our food taste delicious. However, consuming too much salt can have harmful effects on our body.
Let’s explore why consuming too much salt is harmful to the body.
According to Harvard University, excessive salt consumption can lead to high blood pressure. When we consume too much salt, our bodies retain more water to try to dilute the salt in our system. This increases the volume of blood in our blood vessels, which in turn puts extra pressure on the walls of our blood vessels. Over time, this increased pressure can damage our blood vessels, leading to high blood pressure. High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases.
Action Salt warns that consuming too much salt can also damage our kidneys. Kidneys play a crucial role in filtering waste products from our blood and maintaining the balance of fluids and electrolytes in our body. However, when we consume too much salt, our kidneys have to work harder to remove the excess salt from our body. This can lead to damage our kidneys over time, increasing the risk of kidney disease.
Research has shown consuming too much salt can also have an impact on our mental health. According to Food Navigator, a high-salt diet can lead to an increased risk of depression and anxiety. This is thought to be due to the fact that a high-salt diet can disrupt the balance of neurotransmitters in our brain, which can have an impact in our mood.
To reduce our risk of developing health problems, it is important to consume salt in moderation and choose low-salt alternatives where possible. By making small changes to our diet, we can improve our overall health and wellbeing.
Also see: Foods that negatively affect your mood
