Salt containing sodium is also important for human health. The minerals contained in the salt can help regulate body fluids, maintaining nerve transmission and muscle contraction.
For the sake of good tasting cuisine, many people sow too much salt while processing it. In fact, it has become a common secret if too much salt can cause harm to health.
1. Increases the risk of cardiovascular disease
In a study the results were published at BMJ, mentioned that excessive consumption of salts could increase the risk of cardiovascular and stroke diseases, especially for adults. In fact, these diseases can lead to death.
2. Bad for Brain health
According to a published study the results in the Journal of Nutrition, Health, and Aging, excessive consumption of salt can increase high blood pressure. In addition, salt can also decrease brain cognitive function significantly, especially in the elderly.
3. Causes edema
Swelling of the knees, legs or arms may be caused by edema, a condition caused by excessive salt consumption that ultimately affects the fluid content of the body.
4. Disruptive kidney function
As you know, one function of salt is to balance fluid levels in the body, by giving cues to the kidneys when to hold water and when to remove water. Unfortunately, excess salt consumption can interfere with the process.
If you consume excess salts, your kidneys will reduce the production of water into the urine, which can lead to increased blood volume due to water retention. The symptoms that will arise among them are edema, which is characterized by swelling especially in the hands, arms, ankles, and feet, which are caused by fluid retention.
5. Increases blood pressure
Salt can also affect blood pressure, because the higher the sodium levels in the blood, the higher your blood volume. The increase in blood volume can lead to increased blood pressure. In addition, the consumption of sodium in the long term can also damage the walls of blood vessels and increase the risk of hypertension or high blood pressure.
High blood pressure is a blood force that pushes the wall of the artery when the heart pumps blood that can cause many serious conditions, such as stroke and heart failure. And although blood pressure increases naturally as you age, according to the American Heart Association, one way to prevent your blood pressure from gaining too much is by reducing salt intake.
6. Triggering stomach cancer
A published study of the results in Consensus Action on Salt & Health resulted in the fact that consumption of salt and excessive processed foods could increase the risk of stomach cancer, especially for men.
7. Trigger flatulence
Flatulence turns out to be caused by excessive salt consumption. This is due to the ability of salt in damaging the body's fluid balance
8. Thinning bones
Excessive excretion of calcium in the urine is believed by some experts can increase the risk of bone depletion. Some studies have even found that kitchen salts can cause the bones to lose calcium so that it can make the bones become weaker. For long periods of time, such excessive calcium loss can be related to the risk of osteoporosis, especially in women postmenopausal.