Can people live with salt or without salt? Salt is essential to bodies because high salt contains trace minerals, such as Himalayan or Celtic Sea Salt. However, sodium comes in various brands, types, origins, and qualities.
According to Dietary Guidelines for Americans, people consume too much sodium. The amount of salt is 3500 mg of sodium per person. It means that limits are overturned to the side where heart disease risks are increased.
The recommendation from Dietary Guidelines is 2300 mg per person. You see that the amount is almost twice more considerable.
Do we add too much salt to our food?
We do not need to blame the salt shaker. Plenty of sodium hides in processed food. If you check labels before buying, sodium takes a substantial amount as the constituent.
Why does sodium harm us?
Sodium, by itself, is not poison. We harm ourselves when using whitened salt without minerals and consuming too much of it.
How does sodium affect our bodies?
According to health professionals, consuming sodium, using 2300 mg per day, could lower blood pressure. Consumer Reports cites Andreas Kalogeropoulos, M.D., Ph., an associate professor at Stony Brook University School of Medicine. He says that people who would change their sodium intake from high to moderate will improve their cardiovascular health.
Salt or without salt
The high amount of sodium affects the kidneys. When there is too much sodium in our food, the salt reaches the blood, where it is stored. This situation increases water retention and blood volume.
The consequences are unpleasant for the heart because it needs to pump more complex blood. The blood pressure increases and arteries are pressed and stiffened.
Besides, people do not drink plenty of water. Most Americans use soda drinks, and sugar is the bad guy.
Ways to decrease sodium intake
- Start by using less sodium. Taste buds will adapt slowly. Think about children who do not know what salt is. They started to like it when processed foods were introduced to them.
- Read labels on the packaged food. Nobody wants to poison you. The salty food stays longer on shelves. It is your responsibility to think about your health.
- Cook at home as much as possible. You can make dishes for a few days and bring some for lunch at work. In this way, you will escape temptation and reach for potato chips or donuts. Homemade food consists of products chosen by you. You will save money cooking at home. The taste will be different. You will add spices, not just salt. In this way, the consumption of salt will decrease gradually.
Conclusion
Everything is possible when we start to take care of ourselves. Heart diseases are no joke. Consuming significant amounts of sodium hidden in processed food can hurt us. Using the methods mentioned above, you can adapt to the new taste and improve your health.
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