Eating too much salt is really harmful to health

Thread Content

This post was last edited by cflt111 on 2015-10-27 at 18:31. Salt has been used as a seasoning and preservative by humans for thousands of years, and people hold deep affection for it. Some people say, what’s so scary about salt? Has anyone been poisoned by eating salt? Eating more salt doesn’t it just raise blood pressure a bit? I’m still young and don’t have high blood pressure – why do I still need to limit salt intake? If that’s really what you think, then take a look at these problems below. After that, ask yourself whether you still want to and dare to consume that much salt. ※ Headaches are a problem that many people have experienced: after eating a rich, flavorful meal, it’s common to develop headaches. There is a recent study in which participants were fed high-salt, medium-salt, and low-salt diets for 30 days each. The results showed that those who consumed 8 grams of salt per day had headaches more than one-third of the time compared to those who consumed 4 grams of salt. No matter what specific food is consumed, as long as the amount of salt eaten is high, the same reaction will occur. This study confirms that high salt intake may be closely associated with headaches. Friends who often suffer from headaches might want to try eating less salt. ※ Increased edema is closely related to the amount of water retained in the body and the quantity of sodium consumed. Some women with poor blood circulation, despite having no heart or kidney diseases, are prone to mild swelling, especially in the days leading up to their menstrual period, when this condition becomes more apparent and the face appears swollen. The increased water retention caused by rising hormone levels, combined with high salt intake, can exacerbate discomfort such as abdominal distension, facial swelling, and headaches. Studies have long shown that a high-salt diet promotes tissue edema. Women who suffer from premenstrual syndrome for a long time should consciously limit their salt intake and eat lighter foods before their periods. ※ For those with a sore throat or chronic pharyngitis, the food must be light. After consuming foods with high salt content, many people notice an increase in throat mucus and a feeling of a stuffy throat. People who often suffer from throat inflammation and coughing should avoid eating foods that are too salty, too spicy, fried, or smoked. Nuts with high salt content on their surface, such as roasted sunflower seeds and roasted peanuts, as well as various nuts seasoned with salt, should also be consumed in moderation. Snacks with high salt levels, like chips, should also be eaten sparingly. 　※ It harms the skin: When too much salt is consumed, osmotic pressure causes a decrease in the water content in body tissues, which increases fluid loss from the body and hinders the skin’s ability to retain moisture. Therefore, a low-salt diet is an important measure for improving skin quality. Many girls find that their skin feels better after drinking fruit and vegetable juice for a day or two, but this is not because the juice has any magical effects; it’s largely due to the high amount of salt in their regular diet. ※ Promoting gastric cancer: Compared to foods with low salt content, foods with high salt levels reduce the viscosity of the protective mucus in the stomach, thereby weakening its protective effect on the stomach lining. Various harmful substances in food can more easily affect the stomach lining, thus contributing to the development of various stomach diseases. Epidemiological studies have shown a positive correlation between salt intake and the risk of gastric cancer. In other words, eating a light diet with less salt is a healthy lifestyle habit that helps prevent stomach cancer. ※ Loss of calcium: When sodium intake is too high, the body tries to excrete sodium, but this increases the amount of calcium that is excreted in urine as well. For Chinese people whose calcium intake is already severely low, this is simply adding insult to injury. Therefore, it is very wise to follow the common advice given by doctors treating osteoporosis, that is, \"eating less salt means more calcium intake.\" ※ Nutrient loss: When cooking, especially when stir-frying vegetables, if salt is added too early, the cells in the vegetables release their water, losing the protection provided by their cellular structure. This exposure to high temperatures leads to a greater loss of water-soluble vitamins such as vitamin C. At the same time, vegetables are a source of potassium, calcium, and magnesium, which help to control blood pressure and strengthen bones. Cooking vegetables with too much salt increases sodium intake, thereby offsetting these health benefits of vegetables. ※ It damages the kidneys. Excess sodium needs to be excreted through the kidneys, so eating too much salt **increases the burden on the kidneys**. It is well known that patients with kidney disease need to strictly control their salt intake. But why can’t we pay more attention to our kidneys before they become diseased or their function is impaired? Why is it always necessary to use high-salt meals to test its performance? ※ It raises blood pressure. Although some people are of the “salt-insensitive type,” most people are of the “salt-sensitive type”; consuming too much salt leads to an increase in blood pressure. Tip: The Dietary Guidelines for Chinese Residents recommend that salt intake should not exceed 6 grams per person per day. To control salt intake, not only should less salt be used when cooking, but if seasonings such as chicken essence, fermented soybeans, oyster sauce, or salty sauces are already used, no more salt should be added. Additionally, one should eat less fast food (fast food contains a very high amount of sodium), as well as snacks such as chips, crushed crackers, and preserved fruits, all of which have high sodium levels. Avoid instant noodles and biscuits (biscuits also contain a lot of sodium), and do not drink sweet beverages (which often contain sodium, and a large bottle can contain quite a significant amount of it). Use bread less as a staple food – although bread may not seem salty, it actually contains quite a bit of sodium as well.