The body only needs 500 ml of sodium or 1/4 teaspoon of salt per day. Ideally, a person should consume a maximum of 1,500 mg of salt per day, according to the American Heart Association.
Here’s what happens to your body if you eat too much salt.
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Blood vessels and heart can be damaged. The most common health problem that occurs when too much salt is consumed is high blood pressure. A study published in the Lancet shows that hypertension is the cause of 54% of all strokes and 47% of coronary heart disease. Also, due to high blood pressure, a person is more likely to experience heart failure, atrial fibrillation, heart valve disease.
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Swelling may be. Most often, bloating occurs due to water retention in the body after eating an excessive amount of salt. Also, many salt-sensitive people suffer from swelling of the hands, feet, face after salt.
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Can increase weight or body fat. There is growing scientific evidence that high salt intake is associated with increased body fat and weight. According to a study published in Hypertension, there is a direct link between high-sodium diets, overweight and obesity. And all this – regardless of the number of calories consumed. This study also showed that with an increase in sodium of 1000 mg per day in adults, obesity increased by 26%. Also, high salt intake is associated with higher BMI, waist circumference, and body fat. Scientists suggest that salt may have a bad effect on fat metabolism.
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Migraines can get worse. Data from a study published in the British Journal of Nutrition showed that people with the most sodium in their urine experienced longer-lasting headaches than those who consumed less sodium.
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May increase risk of developing dementia. The second most common form of dementia among the elderly is vascular dementia. A study published in Nature Neuroscience states that a diet rich in salt is associated with a higher risk of dementia. There’s also a link between high salt intake and poor cognitive development, in a lengthy article published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.
News cannot be equated with a doctor’s prescription. Consult an expert before making a decision.
Source: Ferra
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