Let’s accept that we’ve been a civilization that’s been obsessed with our favorite seasoning – salt. When man first laid his taste buds on this beauty, he realized that it made everything taste better, some people even used salt for skin whitening. And then there was no stopping him. Soon science revealed the benefits of consuming salt on your skin and in general and then everyone started indulging in it, until of course studies indicated that excess of salt could lead to many problems.
So, to salt or not to salt is the real question. Salt helps our body get access to sodium, which helps with so many functions like transporting oxygen and nutrients as well as helping your body maintain its fluid balance. If sodium is so good for your body, should you be taking a lot of it? The answer is no; in the past some people have consumed more salt than required that has led to many unnecessary complications. So, then should you reduce your salt intake and get used to a diet with almost no-salt? The answer again is no, because your body does need some amount of sodium for its proper functioning.
Like always, we believe that anything in excess is bad and depriving your body of the right nutrients is also a horrible thing to do. So, you must find balance. You already know why excess salt is bad for you. Regularly checking your body for signs or meeting a doctor can really help you understand how much salt your body needs on a daily basis.
Risks of Having Too Much Salt?
The most popular bane of too much salt is that it leads to high blood pressure. This can, in turn, lead to strokes and heart diseases. Did you know our bodies retain water when we eat salt? So, there’s a build-up of pressure on your kidneys until your body doesn’t flush the water out. In extreme cases, excess salt can also lead to hypertension!
Ill-Effects of Not Having Enough Salt
This literally is a catch-22 situation if you don’t get the basics right. For instance, it is not wise to cut salt completely, unless you are specifically asked to do so by your doctor. If you don’t give your body enough salt in a day, your body will not be able to function better and you will face low-blood pressure problems.
What Is Salt Made Up Of?
Well, salt is made up of both sodium and chloride ions. So, in 5g of salt there’s 2g of sodium and the rest is chloride.
Now, most packaged food labels that list salt as two separate entities may make it seem like you are consuming only 2g of sodium, but in reality, you are most likely consuming 5g of salt. No one will tell you this, but you’ve got to read and take advise from nutritionist like May Simpkin.
How Much Salt Should You Consume?
Some studies suggest that we can and should consume about 6g of salt per day. This includes all the salt in chips, sauces or even cereals you have. The nutritional chart at the pack of these packaged foods will help you understand and make a note of the actual amount of salt you consume per day.
At the end of the day, our bodies are different; so, our sensitivity to salt varies from person to person. This is highly dependent on our age, race, genes and medical history. To be a 100% sure, it always better to get routine check-ups done. And as a standard rule try not to have too much salt and neither should you completely go off salt!
