2 min readNew DelhiSep 18, 2019 05:20 PM IST
First published on: Sep 18, 2019 at 05:20 PM IST
While we cannot imagine foods without salt, it should be known that salt is more than capable of making you sick (Photo: Getty Images/Thinkstock)
Excess of anything is bad for the body and can prove to be counterproductive in ways you couldn’t imagine. And while we cannot picture our meals without salt, the seemingly innocuous ingredient is more than capable of making you sick. Here’s how.
Salt and hypertension
Salt and hypertension (high blood pressure) cannot be friends. If you suffer from hypertension, then perhaps it would be a good idea to cut down on sodium. Studies have shown that sodium leads to a slight surge in blood pressure in people who do not otherwise suffer from related ailments. And for people who do, there’s a larger spike which could prove to be deadly.
Effect on kidneys
The kidneys are responsible for flushing out extra and unwanted fluids from the body. Salt consumption, and that too in excess, reduces the ability of the kidneys to remove water. This leads to an overall strain on blood vessels leading to the kidneys. This can potentially lead to kidney-related diseases.
Salt consumption, and that too in excess, reduces the ability of the kidneys to remove the excess water from the body. (Source: Getty/Thinkstock)
Beware when eating out
Restaurants around the world are known to pack in as much salt in a single meal as you are supposed to be consuming in a day! Next time, think before you dig in.
Sleep pattern
Salt can cause frequent trips at night to the bathroom, especially for men. By reducing salt intake, you could reduce the number of times you get up to urinate at night.
ALSO READ | Does lack of sleep alter fat metabolism?
Weight gain
Studies have shown that people with high salt levels in their urine are susceptible to obesity.
Foods rich in salt
You might not even know this, but the food you’re consuming has way more sodium than you realised — cottage cheese, canned vegetables, cereal, bread, pasta sauce and even cookies!
While we cannot imagine foods without salt, it should be known that salt is more than capable of making you sick (Photo: Getty Images/Thinkstock)
Salt consumption, and that too in excess, reduces the ability of the kidneys to remove the excess water from the body. (Source: Getty/Thinkstock)
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