Salt - To Add or Not To?

Exorbitantly high levels of salt in processed and packed foods can be terribly hazardous to health, especially your heart.

Can't resist the bag of salted chips? Here are reasons you should, and ways you can make it easier to lower your salt consumption. Read on…

Salt is one of the basic component and nutritional necessity of the body. A deficiency of this important substance (though rarely found) can be dangerous, and can create electrolyte imbalance which can lead to many other health problems. It is for this very reason that dehydrated people are advised to replenish their salt reserves by taking electrolyte solutions.

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More than 2.3 million people across the world died in 2010 due to high levels of salt in their diets, according to a new study.

But does the 'add salt to taste' theory really applicable to us in our daily lives? Processed and packaged foods are loaded with exorbitantly high levels of sodium, which can be terribly hazardous to health. This practice adopted every day can cause permanent damage to health, and is exceptionally harmful for patients suffering from heart diseases.

Reasons to 'add' the salt: For starters, salt gives you the daily requirement of sodium, which is essential for the metabolic activities of your body and its proper functioning. The healthy functioning of the muscular and nervous system is largely dependent on the sodium levels of the body.

Furthermore, sodium forms a good portion of our blood, which ultimately links sodium intake to circulatory system health.

Quiz on Salt in Our Food
Salt is the most important item in our food. Without salt, the food tastes bland and flavorless. It was so important historically that people used it as a currency. But too much salt consumption can lead to many health problems such as high blood pressure, insomnia, loss of the bone density and joint pains. The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) has set a few guidelines for us regarding the amount of salt we should consume in a day. Take this quiz to know how much salt you should add in your food.

Another reason to add salt to your meals is that a certain amount of salt is required by the body to maintain optimum blood pressure. Salts are also concerned with the endocrine and hormonal system, ensuring that they function properly.

Moreover, the salt that we consume everyday is iodized, meaning it gives us our daily requirement of iodine too. A deficiency in iodine can result in goiter and other complications in the body.

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Reasons to 'skip' it: Patients suffering from high blood pressure are often advised to go easy on the salt, and it's for a good reason. Excess consumption of salt cannot just cause fluid imbalances, but also lead to many other dangerous and life-threatening conditions. High salt consumption over a period of time has been linked to an increased risk of stomach cancer and permanent kidney damage.

Excessive salt consumption can also cause negative impacts on cardiovascular health. Water retention and swelling are also observed in people having a habit of adding more and more salt to their diets.

Salt - Risk factor for autoimmune diseases
Diet with high salt content may increase the risk of autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS), according to research.

Swip and swap: Now that the good and the bad have been listed, it’s time to turn to list down ways to cut down that excess salt in your diet, without compromising on the taste.

Firstly, it is important to note the maximum intake of salt per day, beyond which, health problems can occur. The American Heart Association recommends a maximum of 1500mg of sodium intake every day.

If you are one of those who make it through the day with a burger or a Frankie from the roadside stall and a bag of chips, chances are, your sodium intake is way above normal.

Look for sodium content in the labels whenever you buy packaged products. Cheese and butter have enormous amounts of sodium.

Next, look for substitutes to satisfy your taste buds-squeeze a bit of lemon or a pinch of paprika over your lunch, instead of using the shaker. Salt substitutes can be an option for those suffering from high blood pressure.

One of the best ways to cut down your intake of sodium is to cook with no salt. Once your meal is prepared, just sprinkle a bit of salt on the top right before serving. That way, you'll feel the taste, but will be taking in a much lesser amount of sodium.

Substitute table salt for sea salt - it is thought to be a much healthier option than the former.

Source-Medindia