Salt: why is it bad for you?
The recommended portion of sodium per day is about 2300 milligrams for a healthy diet. This translates to about 2 teaspoons (5 grams) of table salt, OR 5 tsp of fish sauce, OR 4 tsp of light soy sauce.
However, MOST OF US (90% of Americans and this trend holds worldwide http://healthland.time.com/2013/03/22/salty-truth-adults-worldwide-eating-too-much-sodium/), consume more than this limit each day. This is hardly surprising given how much salt is in processed foods and pre-packaged meals and snacks, but it can have some scary consequences.
The real concern with salt intake is sodium. Sodium, a major component of salt, is necessary in our diets as it plays an important role in almost every part of the body. However, too much sodium can cause serious damage.
When you eat salt the sodium ends up in your blood stream where it draws more water to keep the overall concentration in balance. More liquid in your blood vessels creates more pressure, giving you high blood pressure. High blood pressure, as most people are aware, is bad very bad for you. Over time, high blood pressure puts a strain on your blood vessels and allows debris to build up in the walls. These plaques make the vessels more narrow which forces the heart to work harder in order to circulate blood to the body. The heart is not a muscle you want to strain.
High blood pressure can also cause kidney problems by making it difficult for the kidneys to filter excess sodium and thereby keep blood pressure down. It also causes damage to vessels in the brain which can lead to strokes or dementia. Furthermore, high blood pressure can lead to sexual dysfunction, lead to bone loss, and damage blood vessels in the eyes.
Doctors are not joking around when they tell you high blood pressure is a problem and you should watch your salt intake. Experts agree that eating more than the recommended 2300 mg a day can be seriously detrimental to your health, especially if you already suffer from high blood pressure. So be aware of what goes into your food and how much sodium you are consuming in your meals.
