Hebrew News – You should know: five signs that you are eating too much salt

2023-05-28 03:03:16

You should know: five signs that you are eating too much salt

High sodium intake can seriously harm your health, here are some early signs that you should take a break from salt and try to cut back, before things start to get worse

Salt is a cornerstone in the kitchen, there is almost no recipe that does not include it and it must be admitted that the food is much tastier with it. But at the same time, we know that it is not the healthiest for us and most of us consume too much of it. The salt affects us in many more ways than we tend to assume. Various studies show that the consequences of excess sodium in the body are extensive and affect many processes in our body, including: increased risk of obesity, hypertension and increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, kidney stones and more.

The recommended daily intake of sodium is 1,500 milligrams, but most of us eat much more than that, in fact, almost three times that. The problem is mainly with the salt that is present from the beginning in processed food that we buy and eat, and less with the salt that we actively add to our food when cooking or eating.

Here are five physical signs that can tell you that you are eating too much salt, just before all the more serious problems begin:

You feel bloated

Increased sodium consumption can make you feel like you have suddenly gained weight, because it causes body tissues to retain fluids. This fluid retention can cause weight gain as well as swelling in the fingers and around the eyes – another sign to look out for. These symptoms become more common following sodium intake in middle age and beyond.

This is not an immediate reaction after eating salt, but if in the 24 hours after eating salty food you notice swelling in these areas, it could be related. It is best to seek medical advice if this is a persistent event, as it could be a sign of a more serious health concern.

Headaches

If you suffer here and there from headaches that have no obvious cause, try to notice whether they attack you after a meal with a relatively high sodium content. A high consumption of salt can cause the blood vessels in the brain to expand and subsequently cause headaches.

You run to the bathroom a lot

In a study conducted in 2017, it was found that eating a lot of salt causes frequent urination, especially at night. This affects the quality and duration of sleep and may lead to fatigue and irritability. A 25 percent reduction in salt intake led to a significant reduction in the number of nocturnal bathroom visits by study participants.

high blood pressure

Salt is probably the main cause of high blood pressure, when in just 30 minutes, eating excess salt will have a physical reaction on the blood vessels.

In many cases, high blood pressure has no early signs, but if after eating a meal loaded with sodium, you feel blurred vision, chest pain such as a feeling of pressure, palpitations, shortness of breath or sudden nosebleeds, it could be that you suffer from high blood pressure.

The food always feels bland

Our palate tends to adapt very quickly to salt and so, as we eat more salty food, our palate gets used to it and begins to demand larger amounts of salt. It is impossible to argue with the gastronomic virtues of salt, it really improves the taste of many foods, mainly due to its ability to neutralize bitterness. This is also why sprinkling a little salt on vegetables greatly improves their taste for some people. But, as mentioned, if you exaggerate with the salt, it will cause a disturbance in your taste buds over time, and as a result, food with a reasonable salt content will suddenly taste bland to you.

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