Our bodies are no less than intricate machines that function at their best when the nutrition they receive is judiciously balanced. Among the nutrients we require, salt plays an indispensable role in a variety of bodily functions. It’s imperative in regulating fluid levels, nerve functioning, and muscle movements, but overindulgence can lead to significant health hazards. Let’s scrutinize what happens to your body when you consume salt in an uncontrolled manner.
What Does Salt Do Inside The Body?
Salt, a blend of sodium and chloride ions, stabilizes our body’s electrolyte balance. While sodium plays a role in fluid balance, nerve functioning, and muscle movements, chloride is needed for digestion and pH level maintenance. Nevertheless, our bodies only need a minimal amount of salt to operate effectively and overuse can disrupt this equilibrium.
Causes Blood Pressure Spike
There’s a strong correlation between excessive salt consumption and hypertension or high blood pressure. As you start consuming more salt, your kidneys grapple in expelling the surplus sodium which results in fluid retention and increased blood volume. This eventually exerts added pressure on the blood vessels and results in hypertension. Untreated hypertension can raise the risk of cardiac disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular problems in the long run.
Damage Kidneys
The kidneys play a central role in filtering waste products from blood and balancing electrolytes. An overdose of salt, however, can put additional strain on your kidneys. This excessive workload on the kidneys to eliminate abundant sodium can lead to fluid retention and progressive kidney damage. Prolonged high salt intake can escalate to chronic kidney disease.
Fluid Retention
Another outcome of overindulging in salt is fluid retention, or edema. A sodium-water imbalance in your body can cause excess fluid to gather in your tissues, bringing on symptoms of swelling and bloating. It can particularly worsen conditions for those suffering from heart failure, liver cirrhosis, or kidney disease as it amplifies their symptoms and complications risks.
Indigestion or Trouble Digestive Trouble
Necessary as salt is for digestion, an overconsumption can be harmful for gut health. A salt-rich diet increases the chances of stomach cancer and issues like gastritis and ulcers. It can also upset the balance of gut bacteria, paving the way for digestive discomfort and issues.
Effect on Cognitive Skills
Sodium plays an important part in nerve functioning and brain communication, but excess salt can disturb this harmony. Overeating salt has been linked with cognitive decline and increasing chances of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s. Therefore, it is vital to maintain a balanced salt intake for cognitive preservation and brain health.