Statistics from the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion show that an average American consumes up to 47% more sodium than the recommended amount. Much of the sodium is consumed not from the salt shaker itself, but from processed food products and foods served in restaurants.
Sodium-laden foods most consumed by Americans include breads and rolls, cold cuts and cured meat, pizza, soups, cheeseburgers, cheese, chips, pretzels, and popcorn.
It is already known that foods high in sodium cause skin puffiness, contributes to weight gain, and increases the risk of hypertension. Numerous studies have found the link between high salt intake and blood pressure, revealing that as sodium intake increases, blood pressure also does. Meanwhile, it has also been found that diets high in salt can affect the joints and bones. People with rheumatoid arthritis are particularly more affected by this.
Too much salt paves the way for the excretion of more calcium in the urine, which can significantly contribute to bone loss. After all, calcium is a key mineral in building and maintaining strong bones. Calcium deficiency means weaker bones, which is experienced by over 52 Americans, according to Everyday Health. To combat this, it is advised to make sure that calcium is part of your diet, along with nutrients such as zinc, copper, vitamins A and C, and magnesium.
Consuming foods high in sodium can also trigger autoimmune disease. The journal Nature has published research articles showing how high levels of salt can raise the level of an immune cell that plays a key function in autoimmune disease. This can accelerate the development of diseases like multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis, especially for people who are genetically-predisposed.
Everyday Health recommends eating foods with lower sodium content and cutting down on processed foods, and of course, going easy on the salt shaker.
