Excess of both salt and sugar is considered harmful to health. Eating too much sugar increases the risk of problems like obesity and diabetes, while excess salt can increase the risk of heart disease along with increasing blood pressure. In this article, we will know why it is important to eat salt and how its excess can harm the body.
Dietitians explain, that salt contains a component called sodium, which is very essential to maintain the fluid balance in the body and for the muscles and nerves to function better. Lack of sodium in the diet can lead to low blood pressure, increased balance-related problems, and many other types of chronic diseases.
This is why health experts recommend keeping the amount of sodium in the diet balanced. Let us know how much sodium our body needs.
Sodium is also important
Dietitians say sodium requirements may vary depending on a person's health. For most people, 2300 mg of sodium a day is considered sufficient, while for people who have problems with blood pressure or heart diseases, experts have prescribed the amount of 1500 mg. That means consuming one teaspoon of salt a day is sufficient.
Daily amount of salt does not only mean the salt included in food but chips, namkeen, and other things also contain salt, its intake should also be controlled.
It is not right to stay away from salt completely
It is believed that if you eat salt, it can cause the problem of high blood pressure, to avoid this, most people stay away from salt. But do you know that by doing this you can cause big problems? If you completely reduce the amount of salt, it can lead to the complaint of low sodium, due to which problems like muscle weakness, cramps, dizziness while standing, lack of energy, and fatigue increase.
Avoid eating too much salt
Health experts say that consuming more than the prescribed amount of sodium can have many side effects. Consuming more than normal amounts of sodium not only increases the risk of increased blood pressure but can also increase the risk of hypernatremia. Severe symptoms of hypernatremia can include increased brain dysfunction, confusion, seizures, and even coma. Studies have found that people who eat excessive amounts of salt may have a higher risk of life-threatening problems like heart attacks.
Keep these things in mind
Researchers found that more than 22 percent of the population of 49 countries is consuming more salt than normal. To keep the body healthy, it is important to reduce salt intake. Apart from this, drinking plenty of water throughout the day can also help in removing excess salt from the body. To reduce the side effects caused by excess salt, it is also advised to increase the amount of fiber in the diet.
(PC: ISTOCK)
