Discover The Health Side Effects Of Taking Too Much Salt

Did you know that salt plays a very important role in how effectively are body functions

. Basically, without sodium we would not survive. Salt has a key role in controlling the content of water in our blood stream, and regulates the levels of alkaline and acid in our digestive system. Sodium is also needed to support the creation and motion of electrical charges in our nervous system that enable our muscles and limbs to move.

Sodium can effect the major organs of the body and in particularly the kidneys. It is commonly considered that one of the main causes of high blood pressure is the failure of the kidneys to eliminate sodium effectively. The rise in blood pressure increases the levels of sodium that need to be filtered by the kidneys. The excess dilutes into the bladder and raises the levels of sodium in your urine. This reaction is the body compensating for its inability to discharge the sodium effectively.

Although salt is very important for the body too much it can cause problems. The U.S Department of Health in association with the American Heart Association have set guidelines that recommend the daily intake of salt for adults should be no more than 2.4 grams (g). These recommended guidelines are also the same for Canada, the UK and Australia. However, many people are eating far too much salt in their diet. The latest studies have revealed that the average American consumes nearly double the recommended daily amount, that is 5 grams!

So, how are we are eating so much salt and where is it coming from? Well, the best way to understand this worrying trend is to break it down. Basically, 75% of salt within the western diet originates from the food industry with the remaining 25% being added either, by ourselves or added naturally through the consumption of fish and red meat. This statistic is not surprising as the western diet contains a lot of processed foods which, uses high levels of salt as a preservative and flavor enhancer. However, the food industry also uses salt for the following reasons:

* Volatilization control: In foods like cheese and bread, salt is added to regulate the speed of organic fermentation.

* Food binder: Binds processed meat when cooked at high temperatures.

* Texture enhancer: Prevents the tearing of dough as it expands during the baking process.

As you can see, the food industry has many uses for salt other than a preservative or food enhancer.

As discussed, a diet high in sodium can cause serious damage to the major organs. In the long term high levels of sodium can lead to hypertension, high blood pressure and kidney failure.

Many people do not realize that the diet they are eating may have a very high level of salt. This is because salt in food is difficult to taste as the food industry can mask it so well. To find out the level of salt in your diet read the package labels of the food you buy, you can then work out how much your daily intake is. If it is within the daily recommended level then your fine, if its higher then, you need to reduce it as soon as possible.

The best way to reduce salt is to change your diet from a processed one to a natural organic one. This means introducing more fruit and vegetables into your diet and selecting the low salt options. As salt is used to enhance the flavor of food this change in diet may take some time getting use to. However, if you stick to it you will see and feel the benefits and never look back.

by: Bill Weller

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