That added salt in your meals
can profoundly affect your health from head to toe.
Whether you're sprinkling some on your salad or adding a few
pinches to your homemade pasta sauce, adding salt to food is a regular part of
many people's culinary routines. While the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that individuals consume no more than 2,300 mg of salt per
day, most people in the United States consume significantly more.
According to a 2018 study published in JAMA, the average adult in
the United States eats 3,608 mg of sodium per day, which can have serious
consequences. Continue reading to learn about the adverse effects of overeating
salt on your health.
1. You may develop kidney issues.
There's no better time than now to start reducing your salt intake
if you want to maintain your kidneys healthy in the long run. High dietary salt
consumption was linked to a 29 per cent greater risk of developing impaired
kidney function among the 12,126 adults in a 2018 study conducted in Japan.
Furthermore, a 2018 observational study published in the journal
Kidney International found that high salt intake increased the chance of
developing chronic kidney disease in those with hypertension.
2. You may have persistent headaches.
Fending off those painful headaches may be easier than you think:
start by reducing the amount of salt you eat.
According to a 2014 study published in BMJ Open, those who
consumed the most salt reported having headaches. In contrast, those who
maintained a low-sodium diet had a much lower risk of headaches.
3. You may gain weight.
Lowering your sodium intake is an excellent place to start if you
want to lose weight.
In a 2015 study published in the journal Obesity, scientists found
that increased sodium intake was linked to increased weight. Every 1,000
milligrams of sodium consumed per day resulted in a 6-pound weight gain.
4. You may feel bloated.
Are your skinny jeans feeling a bit too snug lately? You might
want to reconsider the amount of sodium you're consuming.
"The sodium in salt attracts water. If you have too much salt
in your digestive system, it will draw water into it, making you feel bloated
"My Crohn's and Colitis Team's Holly Klamer, MS, RDN, states.
5. Your blood pressure may rise.
Lowering your sodium intake is an excellent place to lower your
blood pressure.
"When you consume a large amount of salt in one sitting, you retain a large amount of water. This raises your blood pressure, which over time affects your arteries "According to Megan Byrd, RD of The Oregon Dietitian, this can lead to long-term hypertension, heart disease, and even heart failure.