Too Much Salt Can Lead to Heart Disease

02/07/2010 by admin.

Salt is not all bad, we do need to consume some salt to replace that lost through bodily functions.  Salt is responsible for the regulation and balance of water in our bodies along with other electrolytes, ie potassium, magnesium and calcium.  If you suffer from cramp, then you are likely to be deficient in one or more of these electrolytes.

If we do lots of sport or have a manual job and sweat a lot then our need for salt is greater than those that are sedentary.   We should not consume more than the equivalent of 1 teaspoon of salt per day.  This includes salt added to food and that already contained in processed foods.  Think about that packet of salted nuts, crisps, the salt you add to potatoes and vegetables, the salt contained in packet meals.  It all adds up pretty quickly.

Salt is responsible for high blood pressure, a primary contributor to heart disease.  It also interferes with the body’s ability to remove fats from the bloodstream and can be responsible for water retention and kidney problems.  Salt has also been known to be a contributory factor in migraines and stomach cancer as well as sensitivity to stress.

We should be consuming a maximum of 6g of salt per day (2.4g of sodium).  Tomorrow I will provide some tips on cutting back on salt.

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