Eating too much salt can raise stress levels, says study

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that you consume no more than 5g of salt per day, but the truth is that most of us eat much more than we need.

Sodium chloride is responsible for regulating the body’s water balance and tissue tension. It is essential for the excitability of muscles and nerves.

In addition, it is key to the development of digestion and the bone structure of our body . Like everything, excessive salt becomes a cause of problems.

In fact, a diet that contains high amounts of salty foods has been linked to elevated stress levels.

We must know that the foods with the most added salt are cured cheeses, pickles and other preserves, prepared dishes and charcuterie.

After conducting studies with mice, researchers at the University of Edinburgh reported that animals consuming a high-salt diet experienced a 75% increase in their levels of a stress hormone.

“We are what we eat and understanding how high-salt foods change our mental health is an important step in improving well-being,” said Professor Matthew Bailey.

According to the professor, we all know that eating too much salt damages the heart, blood vessels and kidneys. “This study now tells us that the high salt content in our food also changes the way our brains handle stress,” he said.

Anxiety and violence also increase with excess salt intake

In the future, the team hopes there will be a review of salt levels in foods, specifically around the amount in processed options.

They also want to know if high salt intake leads to other behavior changes, such as anxiety and aggression.

“The recommended salt intake for adults is less than six grams a day, but most people regularly eat around nine grams,” the study authors continued.

They claim this can contribute to higher blood pressure , which increases the risks of heart attacks, strokes, and vascular dementia.

Keep in mind that if the body receives too much salt, this creates thirst and the excess salt is excreted through the kidneys, so these organs are also overworked.