Salt is something you cannot have your food without but it is necessary to keep a check on much salt you are consuming in a day. Human body requires sodium to function properly but consuming too much salt through food is harmful for overall health. Salt is made up of around 60% of chloride and 40% sodium.
Eating too much salt may result in bloating, swelling, intense thirst which is short term effects but it also causes few long term effects like increasing the risk of cancer, heart disease, blood pressure which can lead to premature death.
This article discusses the consequences that your body faces in long term and short term when you consume too much salt in a day.
Long term effects
Raise blood pressure
When you consume too much salt in your diets then it leads to increasing blood pressure which can eventually lead to heart strokes and heart failure. Human kidneys works overtime to flush out toxins and excess salt, so it might also develop some kidney diseases.
Might increase cancer risk
A study says that a person whose salt intake is more than 7 grams per day might have a 68% higher risk of stomach risk where as those who consume around 5 gram per day. Experts believe that a salt rich diet makes a person more vulnerable to stomach cancer by causing ulcers or inflammation.
Short term effects
Persistent thirst
Having a salt rich diet can make you feel very thirsty most of the time. It happens because food with high sodium messes with your body’s fluid balance. Your body starts to provide you with a signal that it needs more water to restore salt in the body.
Water retention
Sometimes you might feel more bloated and puffy than usual. It happens because your kidney wishes to maintain a specific ratio in your body of sodium-to- water. Kidney holds on extra water to compensate for the extra sodium you ate. This may lead to swelling in hands and feet and can cause weight gain.
Headaches
If you experience mild headaches every now and then there are chances that these headaches are because of dehydration. When you consume high salt food it tends to give you headaches in short intervals as your body lacks hydration. Drinking plenty of water will help you to beat this.
Conclusion
If you are someone who is prone to a high intake of a salt diet then try to compensate for it by drinking more water and eating potassium rich foods. Eventually, try to reduce your intake of salt in your daily meals as it will help to stay healthy.
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