Salt is an important spice that is essential in life. Our bodies need salt to function properly. This seasoning provides the necessary minerals for the human body. However, eating too much salt can have negative effects on health.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation, adults should not eat more than 5 grams of salt per day and children should not consume more than 2 grams of salt per day.
When consuming too much salt, the body may experience some of the following manifestations.
Water retention, bloating
Eating salty food will cause the body to retain water. The excess fluid accumulates in the tissues causing swelling, bloating, and puffy eyes.
Eating too much salt can also lead to excess gas in the intestines. Salt can also alter the fermentation process of fiber in the digestive system. Eating salty food can be a cause of bloating.
Water retention and bloating have serious implications for physical well-being.
Frequent headaches
Excess salt disrupts the balance of body fluids, causing sodium to be flushed out of the body’s water supply and leading to headaches due to electrolyte loss. When the body is dehydrated, the brain shrinks.
Consuming too much salt can also lead to nausea, dizziness, vomiting, and intensify headaches.
Experts recommend drinking plenty of filtered water to flush out excess sodium.
Constant thirst
High sodium concentration can lead to a constant feeling of thirst and dry mouth. To alleviate this condition, you should adjust your diet, reduce salt intake, and increase water consumption.
Frequent urination
Excess sodium in the body can make you urinate more frequently.
When there is excess salt, the kidneys have to work harder to eliminate the excess salt from the body. This makes you urinate more often.
Craving salty food
Eating salty food for a long period of time creates a bad habit for the body. Once you get used to the taste of salty dishes, you tend to add more salt to your food.