Maybe you are one of those people who think that you do not consume so much saltbecause you don’t add an extra to your food; however, there are many foods that we eat every day that have large amounts of sodiumthe mineral compound that harms us when we ingest it in excess. For example, a bowl of cereal in the morning, ketchup at noon, and some prepackaged cookies in the afternoon.
Why? Sodium too used as a preservative and as a flavor enhancertherefore, many foods that are sold commercially contain large amounts of this mineral. They don’t taste saltybut it is as if you are consuming a lot of salt, which can affect your health without knowing it. Salt is also in snacks, instant soups, sausages, cheeses, bread, etc.
This time we give you seven healthy reasons that will make you reduce your daily salt intakeso that you not only avoid adding the extra to your food, but also review what you consume and moderate your amounts of sodium, mainly in industrialized foods, something that, according to health authorities, we have also increased, forgetting about fresh foods such as fruits and vegetables.
7 reasons to reduce your daily salt intake
According to the World Health Organization (WHOSE), the most people consume between 9 and 12 grams of salt per day on average, somewhat excessive and that it would be twice the maximum intake recommended, which should be less than 2 grams of sodium per day, which is equivalent to 5 grams of salt per day.
However, he warns that it is harmful to exceed the consumption of salt, such as leaving it completely, so the recommendation is to reduce it, and here we give you seven reasons for you to take them into account:
1. Reduces the risk of suffering from high blood pressure
Excess sodium in the body causes fluid retention and this increases blood volume, making the heart work harder to move blood around the body, which over time can lead to hardening of the blood vessels, damaging blood pressure.
2. You will have more energy
Excess salt can be harmful to the kidneys, which try to remove excess sodium from our body. By overloading the function of this organ, we can cause weakness and lack of energy that can become chronic over time. By reducing the amount of salt, you will gradually feel an improvement in your energy levels.
3. Prevents cardiovascular diseases
Hypertension can be really harmful, not only because of the damage it causes itself, but also because over time it can develop other diseases such as cardiovascular diseases by hardening the blood vessels and making the heart work harder, which can trigger an attack heart and other affections of this organ.
4. Helps reduce swelling
As we told you before, sodium can cause fluid retention in the body, which is quickly reflected in swollen legs, which in turn impairs blood circulation. By reducing the amount of salt in your food to healthy levels, you will feel lighter and less bloated.
5. Helps lose weight
Reducing salt can help you lose weight or maintain a healthy weight, because it prevents fluid retention and facilitates the activity of the kidneys to detoxify the body. In addition, as we told you, many foods with high amounts of sodium also contain fat, sugars and simple carbohydrates that make you gain weight.
6. You avoid damaging the health of your brain
Excessive salt intake not only increases the risk of cerebrovascular disease (for the same reasons it causes high blood pressure or heart disease), but it can also suppress blood flow to the brain when it is at rest and the function of brain cells. endothelial cells (which line the blood vessels), which causes rapid cognitive decline.
7. You will have a more hydrated skin
As we have seen, salt prevents the balance of fluids in the body, which can cause dehydration in the skin, making it look dry, wrinkled and dull. By reducing the amount of salt, we can have a better balance in hydration, which will be reflected in your skin. If you add adequate hydration with natural water to this, you can prevent premature aging of your skin.