8 Reasons Why You Should Reduce Salt in Your Food

Let’s just say it, without salt, every dish is incomplete and flavourless. Who doesn’t enjoy a nice dash of salt in their food? One doesn’t understand the importance of salt until it is missing. Not only taste, but salt also has a lot of health benefits if taken in moderate amount.

However, not everyone knows that a high amount of salt in their food is actually bad for their heart and health. Therefore, it is important to reduce salt in your food so that you can enjoy every delicacy that you wish to without worrying about health. If you’re worried about the taste of food, you can always try different herbs and spices.

Here are a few reasons why you should reduce salt in your food.

1. Salt and blood pressure

Moderate consumption of salt boosts the blood pressure to a healthy level, but an excess of anything is dangerous. So is the case with salt. When you intake too much of salt, it starts to affect your blood pressure and leads to hypertension. That’s why people with high blood pressure are advised to avoid foods with high salt or sodium.

2.Salt and Cardiovascular diseases

Studies have shown that since kidneys have a hard time keeping up with high sodium level in the bloodstream, the body starts to accumulate water to dilute sodium. This increases blood volume, and in turn, blood pressure. This leads to a high risk of cardiovascular diseases. Who knew the seemingly harmless salt could have such disadvantages.

3. Salt and bone health

When you increase the amount of sodium (or salt consumption), the amount of calcium that is lost by the body via urination also increases. This calcium is then leached out of the bones if it is short in supply in the bloodstream. It can also lead to diseases such as osteoporosis. Guess what our mothers used to say in childhood wasn’t wrong.

4. Salt and kidney diseases

Improper filtration of urine due to a high amount of sodium leads to increased calcium in it. This can be a cause for kidney stones and other kidney ailments.

5. Salt and cancer risk

High intake of salt is also linked to stomach cancer, as published in a report by the World Cancer Research Fund. In their study, it was concluded that salt and salted food are a probable cause of stomach cancer. Isn’t it surprising?

6. Salt and obesity

Although there is no direct relation between the both, is known that if you eat salty food, you feel thirsty and hungry often. This leads to more intake of foods and drinks, ultimately leading to overeating and weight gain.

7. Salt and cognitive decline

It was found in various studies that people who have reduced salt usage when they are young, had better cognitive performance than those who had higher salt consumption habit. Even for the prevention of dementia in older age, it is recommended to have a low salt diet.

8. Salt and dehydration

f you don’t have enough water, excessive salt can result in dehydration of your body. This makes it pull out water from the cells, and side effects can be anywhere from dry skin to dehydration.

So, when are you improving your diet?