There is no doubt that the taste of food seems completely bland without salt. But due to the presence of sodium in salt, its excessive consumption proves harmful for health.
According to the World Health Organization, excessive sodium intake is the cause of every death of more than 18 lakh people. Because sodium is mostly present in salt, it is not wrong to say that salt is no less than poison. Even though you might have always heard from chefs the advice of adding salt as per taste in food, using it every day in the same quantity as is said to be healthy.
How does sodium become the cause of death?
Excess sodium in the body is related to high blood pressure, which increases the risk of heart disease, gastric cancer, obesity, osteoporosis, Ménière's disease and kidney disease.
This amount of salt daily is enough
For adults, WHO recommends less than 2000 mg/day of sodium (equivalent to less than 5 g/day of salt). At the same time, for children aged 2-15 years, WHO recommends adjusting the adult dose downwards based on their energy requirements.
Ways to reduce salt intake
- Eat mostly fresh, minimally processed food items.
- Choose low-sodium products (less than 120mg/100g sodium)
- Cook food with less or no salt.
- Use herbs and spices instead of salt to flavor food.
- Do not consume packaged sauces, dressings and instant foods.
Signs of excess sodium in the body
If you have been feeling muscle weakness for a long time, it may be a sign of excess sodium in the body. Apart from this, other signs of high sodium level include frequent thirst, mostly mild headache, frequent urination, swelling in the body.
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