What Is Salt Made Up Of?
Our table salt is formed by the ionic bonding of 2 elements Sodium (Na) and Chlorine (Cl). These do not occur independently but are always found bonded together in nature. Salt is nearly 40% Sodium while it is 60% Chloride.
Types Of Sodium Chloride:
- Table salt
- Sea salt
- Himalayan Pink Rock salt
- Celtic Grey sea salt
Why Is Too Much Sodium Bad For You?
It is the basic ingredient of any cooked food and thus cannot be completely avoided. But we should be somewhat mindful of our salt intake. As per various researches, eating too much salt can cause a number of health-related problems. Some of them are:
- Risk of High Blood Pressure.
- Several Heart diseases
- Contributes to Strokes
- Causes Calcium Losses.
What Does Research Say?
The research of Professor Lu Qi, of Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, USA, says that adding extra sodium to the table is directly linked to premature death.
5 Signs You Are Eating Too Much Salt.
- You are always feeling thirsty – If your mouth feels dry and you crave water all the time, then there are high chances that you are eating too much of it. Because sodium takes a lot of water from your cells chances of feeling thirsty are quite high. However, this can also be a sign of diabetes so better if you visit a doctor
- You always want to go to the washroom – This logically connects with our previous point. This is very dangerous because excessive urine makes you lose calcium. So your body will now take calcium from your bones which results in making them weaker. Although this can also be a symptom of type 2 diabetes so it is better to consult a doctor.
- Your Kidneys Hurt – Kidneys are the powerhouse of your body. Your kidneys hurt when you eat food rich in salts Too much urine can cause a significant protein to lose. This can lead to serious kidney-related diseases.
- You have regular headaches and fatigue – High consumption of sodium leads to dehydration. This is the main cause of headaches and fatigue. Adding avocados, apricots, and cauliflower can solve this problem.
- You crave junk food – Junk Foods are nothing but the shortcuts we use when we do not want to cook healthy meals. These are very delicious but can cause serious health issues when consumed in long run. However, we should avoid foods that have more than 0.03oz of salt per 3.5oz of food. While making meals at home we can replace sodium chloride with the amazing taste and health benefits of black pepper, rosemary, curry, etc.
Countries With High Intake Of NaCl:
- China
- The United States Of America
- South Africa
- Australia
- The United Kingdom.
Countries With Least NaCl intake:
Countries like Kenya and Malawi have the least salt intake.
Salt And its Facts:
- Many historians believe that it came from Northern China and was found in a lake named Yuncheng, of the Chinese province of Shanxi near about 6000 BC.
- Egyptians were the first to find out that salt could be preserved for a long time.
- Earth has about 50 quintillion kilograms of salt in its oceans.
- The average consumption of NaCl worldwide is about 9-12g each day.
Benefits Of Sodium Chloride:
Including NaCl has a number of health benefits for you which includes your overall health. Having it included in a certain limit to your diet can actually make sense. Some of its health benefits are:
- Improves the quality of your sleep
- It supports a healthy nervous system
- Supports good vascular health
- Keeps us hydrated
- It Balances electrolytes
Conclusion:
Eating salt is neither good nor bad if you do not mind the quantity you consume. It can make our food feel and taste good but excessive use of it can cause serious health issues including premature death. We must be eating it according to our age, BMI(Body Mass Index), and Way of Living.
Note: Over-consumption of anything is hazardous.
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