SALT CONSUMPTION: Which is Best? Too Much or Too Little

Sodium chloride, which is gotten from table salt, is required for metabolic functions in the body and regulation of fluid volume.

In a nutshell, salt is essential for life. “In fact, no mineral is more essential to human survival than sodium, because it allows nerves to send and receive electrical impulses, helps your muscles stay strong and keeps your cells and brain functioning,” stated Mrs. Tabitha Oyewale, a dietician with Centenary Hospital, Lagos.

Therefore, it is important to strike a balance in the consumption of salt.

Too much

Excess sodium increases blood pressure because it holds excess fluid in the body, and that creates an added burden on the heart. Too much sodium will increase your risk of stroke, heart failure, osteoporosis and stomach cancer. Salty foods tend to also be high in total fat and calories, leading to excess total calorie intake which in turn causes overweight and obesity. A long term problem related to hypertension is kidney disease, a chronic illness which can lead to kidney failure.

Too little

Sodium chloride is a nutrient that the body cannot produce, and therefore, it must be eaten. Low salt diets can be especially harmful. When the body is void of sodium chloride, it cannot retain body fluid; this leads to dehydration. Dehydration comes with a host of other side effects which are dangerous to the human body. While salt-induced hypertension is typically blamed as a cause of heart disease, a low salt intake is associated with higher mortality from cardiovascular events. Low sodium levels in the blood is referred to as hyponatremia, and is a serious condition which can lead tolow blood pressure, stroke, nausea and body cramps, and even brain damage.

This is why salt intake must be done properly, as both extremes are dangerous. You can consult your dietician for directions and proportions.