The Benefits Of Salt For The Human Body

The Salt

Most people put salt in food to add flavor to it, but they are unaware of the benefits of salt for the body. In this article, we will learn about it.

Salt is the largest food source of sodium, but what are the benefits of salt for the body? What are the harms of reducing or increasing it?

The Benefits Of Salt For The Body

- Studies have found that salt has many benefits in the body, one of which is that it makes you less thirsty because it keeps water inside the body.

- Some types of salt may contain small amounts of calcium, potassium, iron and zinc. Iodine is often added to table salt. These minerals act as electrolytes, which are important in the body for their work in aiding fluid balance, nerve transmission, and muscle function.

- Historically, salt was used to preserve food (pickles). Large amounts of it can prevent the growth of bacteria that cause food spoilage.

Too Little Salt May Be Harmful

There is some evidence that a low-salt diet can cause harm.

Negative effects of a low-salt diet include:

High Level Of Cholesterol And Triglycerides: A low-salt diet is associated with high levels of harmful cholesterol, as indicated by one study.

Heart Disease: Numerous research indicates that less than 3,000 mg of sodium per day is linked to an increased risk of dying from heart disease.

Heart Failure And Failure: One study found that reducing salt intake increases the risk of death in people with heart failure.

Insulin Resistance: Some studies have reported that a low-salt diet may increase insulin resistance.

Type 2 Diabetes: One research found that in patients with type 2 diabetes, low sodium is linked.

Too Much Salt May Be Harmful

Eating too much salt may cause:

Stomach Cancer

Several studies link a diet high in salt to an increased risk of stomach cancer.

It was found that people with a high intake of salt had a 68% higher risk of developing stomach cancer, compared to those with a low intake.

Also, a diet high in salt may damage the lining of the stomach.

Bacteria Growth

Eating large amounts of salt may increase the growth of Helicobacter pylori, a bacteria that may lead to inflammation and stomach ulcers.

Recommended Amount Of Salt

So how much salt should you eat daily? The recommended salt intake varies with age as shown below:

Adults

Adults should eat no more than 6g of salt per day (2.4g sodium), which is about one teaspoon.

Children

The maximum amount of salt for children depends on their age:

1 to 3 years - 2g salt per day (0.8g sodium).

4 to 6 years old - 3g salt per day (1.2g sodium).

7 to 10 years old - 5g salt per day (2g sodium).

11 years and over - 6g salt per day (2.4g sodium).

So avoid giving your child processed foods such as ready meals as they often have a high salt content.

New Born

Newborns shouldn't take in a lot of salt, because their kidneys aren't fully developed to process it. Children under one year should have less than 1g of salt per day.

If the baby is breastfed, he will get the right amount of minerals, including sodium and chloride, from breast milk.

Therefore, salt should not be added to the newborn baby's milk or food, and bouillon cubes or broth should not be used because it often contains a high percentage of salt and the newborn's kidneys cannot handle it.