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Salt helps bring out the flavor of food, it enhances texture, and it serves as a preservative.
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Problem is, today’s sodium intake far exceeds what the body needs to be at its best.
But what happens to your body if you eat too much salt?
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Salt and sodium: how much is too much?
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However, 1,500 milligrams per day is an ideal limit, per theAmerican Heart Association.
Once consumed and when it enters the bloodstream, sodium is a sponge for water.
Hypertension is the number one risk factor for developing cardiovascular disease, according to research published in the journalHypertension.
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Elevated blood pressure is also a risk factor for heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and heart valve disease.
What’s worse, high salt intake is linked to higher BMI, waist circumference, and body fat.
While the mechanism is not yet understood, researchers theorize that salt may negatively impact fat metabolism.
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The researchers suggest that reduced sodium intake may be a potential target for intervention.
High quality prospective studies and clinical trials are needed.
To reduce sodium, the best approach is to focus on eating fewer high-sodium prepared foods or restaurant foods.
give a shot to purchase foods with less than 10% DV for sodium whenever possible.
For improved overall health, it’s best to reduce sodium and increase potassium.
The Daily Value for potassium is 3,400 milligrams per day.
That means for every 1,000 milligrams of sodium, an individual would have 3,000 milligrams potassium.
