Are You Eating A Dangerous Amount Of Salt? [Part 1]

Sugar gets a lot of bad press when it comes to unhealthy food choices. But too much salt can be a problem, too.

Scroll down to read what the long-term effects are when you eat too much salt, plus 9 signs that you already are eating too much salt.

75% of the salt that we eat is hidden in the food that we buy.

Evidence has shown that regularly eating too much salt puts us at increased risk of developing high blood pressure.

31.8% of South Africans have high blood pressure. 

High blood pressure is the main cause of strokes and a major cause of heart attacks and heart failures, the most common causes of death and illness in the world.

[RELATED: Could you have high blood pressure?]

What Happens If You Eat Too Much Salt?

Too much sodium in the diet can lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke. It can also cause calcium losses, some of which may be pulled from the bone.

As sodium accumulates in the kidneys the body holds onto water to dilute the sodium which increases the volume of blood in the bloodstream. Increased blood volume means more work for the heart and more pressure on blood vessels.

Over time, the extra work and pressure can stiffen blood vessels, leading to high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke. It can also lead to heart failure.

Most of the salt in our diets comes from commercially prepared foods NOT from salt added when cooking or eating at home. According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the top 10 sources of sodium in our diets include:

• bread/rolls
• pizza
• sandwiches
• cold cuts/cured meats
• soups
• savory snacks (chips, popcorn, pretzels, crackers)
• cheese

9 signs that you’re eating too much salt

You’re Bloated: When your stomach feels swollen or tight — is one of the most common short-term effects of having too much salt. It helps your body retain water, so extra fluid builds up.

Your Blood Pressure Is High: There are lots of reasons you might have high blood pressure, but one could be too much sodium. Too much salt makes it harder for your kidneys to get rid of fluid that you don’t need. As a result, your blood pressure goes up.

You’re Puffy: Swelling can be a sign of too much sodium in your body. Body parts like your face, hands, feet, and ankles are most likely to swell. If you’re more puffy than usual, take a look at how much salt you’re eating.

You’re Really Thirsty: If you’ve been really thirsty lately, it could be a sign that you’re eating too much salt. When that happens, you become dehydrated. Your body pulls water from your cells, and you might start to feel very thirsty.

You’ve Gained Weight: When you retain water, you might gain weight. If you’ve put on pounds quickly over a week or even a few days, it could be because you’re having too much salt.

You Use the Restroom a Lot: More salt could lead to more trips to the bathroom. This could be because salt can make you very thirsty, which might encourage you to drink more water. Later on, you might have to go to the bathroom more than usual.

You Aren’t Sleeping Well: If you eat too much salt before bed, it can lead to disturbances in your sleep. Signs can range from a restless sleep to waking up often at night, to not feeling rested in the morning.

You Feel Weak: When there’s too much salt in your blood, water gushes out of your cells to thin out the salt. The result? You might start to feel weaker than usual.

Your Stomach Bothers You: If too much salt in your diet makes you dehydrated, your stomach will feel it. You might feel nauseated, or you might have diarrhea. If your stomach is upset or you have cramps, take a look at what you’ve been eating during the past few days and figure out how to cut back on the salt.

(source: https://health.clevelandclinic.org/is-salt-bad-for-you/ + https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/what-happens-if-you-eat-too-much-salt#bottom-line + https://www.webmd.com/diet/ss/slideshow-too-much-salt + http://www.healthylivingforlife.org/ )

Mums, are you aware of the amount of salt you and your family have in your daily food intake?

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