Why You Should Consume Less Salt

Over consumption or high consumption of salt can lead to belly bloating and hypertension. High salt is also responsible for increased risk of heart diseases and osteoporosis. Moreover it makes you consume more calories. As per Dieticians of Canada, we’re eating too much sodium. The average Canadian consumes about 3,500 milligrams of sodium each day—but it should be between 1,500 and 2,300. Avoid sprinkling extra salt over your food to limit your consumption of salt. Here are some reasons why you should consume less salt: 
 

Image Source: ultranutrition.com

1. Salt makes you thirsty for high-calorie drinks 

As per a research by Graham MacGregor, a professor of cardiovascular medicine at St. George’s, University of London (U.K.), children who halve their salt intake drink two fewer sugary soft drinks per week, stripping more than 230 calories from their diets. “The same effect is seen in adults,” he says. 

2. Salt causes the kidneys to retain fluid 

High consumption of salt increases blood pressure in the arteries. A study from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute in the U.S. found that switching from a typical high-salt diet to a low-salt one could lower a person’s blood pressure as much as taking prescribed drugs could. 

3. Too much salt can weaken bones 

Caryl Nowson, an exercise and nutrition science professor at Australia’s Deakin University says “A high-salt diet raises urinary calcium losses”. Our bones get weaken because when we excrete too much calcium, the absorption of calcium by our intestine increases and our body compensates that by taking calcium from our bones. 
[Source: besthealthmag.ca]