We all eat foods with enough salt in them as it would taste good for our taste buds.
How will you react if you come to know that intake of salt could be a silent killer for your heart health? Shocking but true!!
It is noteworthy that the amount of dietary salt or sodium chloride is a determinant of BP levels of hypertension and overall cardiovascular risk etc. This was according to WHO or World Health Organisation. Point is that WHO recommends less than 5gms of salt intake per day.
In this fast paced life, we could see many people with salt induced health issues in them. The main reason for that was due to over dependence on processed foods. It is known that these types of foods are rich in sodium.
To conduct nerve impulses, manage muscle contractions and maintain appropriate equilibrium of minerals and water etc inside the body, the human body requires a small amount of sodium. The cardiologists have confirmed that 5gms approx of sodium intake is enough every day.
Side effects of excess dietary sodium:
Excess intake of dietary sodium could lead to elevated BP, heart ailments and strokes etc and these are really serious issues. There are also chances that excessive intake of dietary sodium could cause loss of calcium also. It has been found out by the doctors that a significant number of persons especially from India consume atleast 2.5gms of salt every day. That is about 8 to 9milligram of sodium which is more than the body`s requirements.
Noida based famous Interventional Cardiologist Dr. Sameer Gupta explained that excessive salt intake could lead to serious effects on the heart health. He added that salt contains sodium and excess intake of sodium would raise the blood pressure of a person. This would put increased strain on the heart leading to increased risk of heart disease, heart attacks, strokes etc. The body would retain more fluid when excess salt is consumed and it would lead to swelling and more workload on the heart. The arteries would get stiffened and would become less flexible etc.
Various salt alternatives that can be used:
Using herbs and spices etc:
Instead of relying too much on the salt, it would be superb to add herbs and spices like garlic, turmeric ginger etc.
Using lemon and vinegar:
It would be possible to add tanginess without relying on the salt by adding lemon juice or a splash of vinegar etc.
Using salt substitutes:
It would be good to use those salt substitutes that are low in sodium or potassium chloride etc. This would be healthier too.
Opting for fresh ingredients:
When compared to the processed and packed foods, fresh foods have low sodium content in them. Therefore, it would be good to eat fresh fruits, vegetables etc.
By gradually reducing sodium:
It is not possible to leave out sodium all of a sudden. Gradual reduction of salt intake could be carried out. This time would make the taste buds get adjusted to the lower sodium levels.
