3 Things That Happen To Your Body When You Eat Too Much Salt And Ways To Avoid It

Everyone knows that salt is the perfect ingredient that adds taste to every dish. Unfortunately salt can bring so many health problems. According to psychologists, 90 % of people complain about diseases that result from salt consumption. Scroll down to understand what happens to your body when you eat too much salt. . What Happens […]

Everyone knows that salt is the perfect ingredient that adds taste to every dish.
Unfortunately salt can bring so many health problems.
According to psychologists, 90 % of people complain about diseases that result from salt consumption.
Scroll down to understand what happens to your body when you eat too much salt.

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What Happens To Your Body When You Eat Too Much Salt?

1. HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE.

As we briefly mentioned above, people who consume a lot of salt in their diet have a greater risk of developing high blood pressure. This happens because salt makes you retain water, which makes your heart pump harder. This puts a lot of strain and pressure on your organs, which can lead to heart disease, strokes, dementia, cardiovascular disease, and other serious problems.

2. KIDNEY PROBLEMS.

A high-sodium diet increases your risk of developing kidney stones because it increases the amount of calcium in your urine, which has been found to be a key factor in the formation of the stones. As you consume more salt, the body holds on to more water to try to dilute the sodium. Your body normally removes excess fluid by filtering blood through your kidneys to draw water out of your blood. However, when you have a diet high in sodium, the kidneys will remove less water, and therefore, your blood pressure increases. This can cause kidney failure because, as your blood pressure rises to accommodate the excess salt, it puts tremendous strain on arteries leading to the kidneys.

3. BLOATED STOMACH

When you consume too much sodium, you retain water, as we mentioned. Most people think of bloating in their abdomen only; however, sodium can cause you to hold onto water throughout your body. Called edema, you can even develop swelling in the feet, legs, and hands due to excess salt consumption. While one night of eating too much salt won’t usually cause severe swelling, over time, fluid retention caused by a high-salt diet can certainly lead to chronic bloating.

LIMITING INTAKE OF SALT

1. Make sure you get plenty of potassium in your diet. Potassium can counteract the effects of excess salt and lower blood pressure. Ideally, you should aim for 3,500 – 4,700 mg per day. Healthy sources include bananas, sweet potatoes, spinach, avocados, and tomatoes.

2. Prepare more meals at home, and add salt-free seasonings to your food. If you look in your local grocery store, you’ll find plenty of choices for seasonings that don’t necessarily include salt.

3. Buy fresh foods such as fruits, vegetables, and meats, and limit consumption of canned foods with added salt. If you do buy canned food, try to find salt-free versions.

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