SAEDNEWS: Consuming too much of anything is harmful to the body; excessive salt intake causes serious health problems that are often irreversible.
According to SAEDNEWS, Table salt is a compound made up of an ionic bond between sodium and chloride. Like other nutrients, salt should be consumed in appropriate amounts because an adequate intake of salt is essential for metabolism and proper muscle function. However, excessive salt consumption can lead to various warnings and health problems. If you want to know how much salt you should use daily and what health risks are associated with consuming too much salt, read this section.
Salts are inorganic compounds that do not contain carbon or hydrogen. Salts with a positive charge are called cations, and they attract ions with a negative charge, called anions. This attraction between positive and negative charges is known as an ionic bond, which is key to stabilizing the chemical structure of salts.
One of the most important salts in the natural and biological systems of the world is sodium chloride. Let’s take a closer look at sodium chloride and discuss what makes it such a valuable salt in nature.
Salt is one of the essential substances for metabolism, nerve signal transmission, and proper muscle function in the body. Consuming a small amount of salt during diarrhea, vomiting, intense physical activity, or in hot weather helps replenish the minerals lost from the body.
Salt also helps balance blood sugar, soothes and smooths the throat, aids in nutrient absorption from food, regulates sleep, treats colds and sinusitis, alleviates allergies, prevents muscle cramps, provides energy to the body, improves nerve cell function, and helps remove excess acidity from the body.
According to the World Health Organization’s recommendation, the daily salt intake should be five grams. However, in our country, the salt consumption is two to three times higher than this amount.
Sodium chloride, or table salt, primarily carries the negative side effects of sodium. Excessive consumption can lead to various warnings and health problems, which we will explain below:
High Blood Pressure
Table salt is one of the major contributors to high blood pressure. A recent study reported that over 17% of high blood pressure cases in the United States were linked to high salt intake. Consuming too much table salt is very harmful to you.
Excessive consumption increases arterial pressure, and a high amount of salt in the body causes water retention and dilution. This leads to increased water retention and a rise in the volume of blood within the blood vessels.
An increase in blood volume also raises blood pressure, which leads to hypertension, or chronic high blood pressure. Over time, hypertension can cause blood vessels to lose their elasticity, and if left untreated, it may result in heart attacks or strokes.
Another issue is that due to the heart’s excessive workload in pumping the increased blood volume, the heart itself can become weakened and suffer adverse effects.
Stomach Disorders
Table salt can be harmful to the stomach. In fact, studies have shown that very high amounts of salt may lead to stomach cancer, which is the fourth most common cancer worldwide. The risk of developing stomach cancer is particularly high in developing countries where excessive salt consumption is common. Additionally, consuming too much salt can also cause various stomach discomforts.
The effects and consequences of consuming too much salt on the body:
Asthma
Consuming too much salt can worsen asthma in some individuals. For these people, reducing salt intake can be effective and beneficial in improving their asthma condition.
Sudden Illnesses
An article published in a medical journal has detailed the relationship between sodium chloride and sudden illnesses. In clinical settings, high levels of sodium chloride have been associated with sudden illnesses within the veins. Conversely, severe sodium depletion during dehydration can also cause these sudden illnesses.
If you frequently need to use the bathroom, whether during the day or at night, frequent urination may be a key sign of excessive salt intake, overactive bile, urinary tract infection, or type 2 diabetes. If you notice any changes in your urination habits, consult a doctor.
Excessive Thirst
If you often experience a dry mouth and intolerable thirst, you have likely consumed too much salt. Like frequent urination, constant thirst can also indicate other conditions such as type 2 diabetes, so be sure to discuss this with your doctor.
Fluid Retention in the Body
Excessive salt intake causes increased fluid retention in the body. If these individuals reduce their salt consumption, approximately 2 liters of body fluids will decrease.
Swelling of the Ankles
Overconsumption of salt in the diet can lead to swelling of the ankles. Swollen ankles may result from water retention caused by excessive salt intake. However, other conditions can also cause ankle swelling. For those whose ankles are swollen and whose rings have become tight, reducing salt intake can significantly decrease the swelling.
Headache
If you often crave salty foods, it means you are consuming too much salt. You will enjoy your meals more if you reduce your salt intake to an acceptable level.
Excessive salt in the diet can cause dehydration-related headaches. If you frequently experience moderate headaches and suffer from them without knowing what to do, you should reduce your salt intake. Lowering salt to a minimum has no harmful effects, and your doctor will assist you in this regard.
Impaired kidney function
A high-salt diet can slow down your kidney function. Excessive salt intake may lead to increased protein in your urine. Elevated protein levels in urine are a significant risk factor for kidney disease.
