How much salt can damage your body?
Salt, without which our meals remain incomplete. If the right amount of salt is not present in our food, its taste deteriorates.
Salt is what binds the spices in our food, enabling us to relish its flavor. However, do you know that consuming salt in excess can harm you?
Consistently eating excessive salt can lead to lifelong illnesses. Let’s explore the correct dosage of salt and the potential harms of over consumption.
Side Effects of Consuming Too Much Salt
According to doctors, we should consume 2300 milligrams of salt daily. Approximately 1000 milligrams are obtained naturally from vegetables, fruits, grains, and beverages.
However, we need an additional 1300 milligrams, which we add while cooking our meals. This way, we achieve our daily salt intake.
Nevertheless, some people have the habit of adding extra salt on top of their food or consuming it in the form of pickles, sauces, or other means, which is detrimental to health.
1) Excessive salt intake can raise our blood pressure, which is extremely detrimental to our heart. Individuals with high blood pressure should significantly reduce their salt intake.
2) Excessive salt leads to water retention in our bodies, causing swelling, mainly in the hands, feet, and face. This affects our kidneys.
3) Consuming too much salt can elevate the calcium level in our urine, leading to kidney stone problems.
4) Excessive salt consumption can cause ulcers in the stomach and inflammation in the intestines.
5) It can cause dehydration and persistent headaches.
6) People consuming excessive salt feel extremely thirsty even after drinking water continuously. This happens because the body tries to expel the excess salt, leading to persistent thirst.
7) High salt consumption can cause itching in the skin, a continuous burning sensation, and red patches.
8) Excessive salt weakens the roots of our hair, leading to hair breakage.
9) Excessive salt consumption leads to calcium depletion from our bones, making them weaker and increasing the chances of osteoporosis.
10) Bloating, frequent urination, and insomnia are also caused by excessive salt consumption.
What Are the Alternatives? What Can I Use Instead of Table Salt?
Consuming too much salt can cause numerous health problems. But what can we use instead of salt that maintains the flavor of our food without harming our bodies?
If you use a lesser amount of salt and combine it with garlic, black pepper, ginger, and lemon, these can act as excellent substitutes for salt.
You can reduce the salt content in your food and add any of these alternatives separately if you find the taste lacking.
This way, the taste of your food will remain intact, and so will your health.
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