What Happens If You Eat Too Much Salt? 

Did you know that most Americans consume more than three times the recommended amount of salt per day?

Excess amounts of salt can negatively impact all areas of your life from your physical, mental, and emotional health. But what happens if you eat too much salt?

There’s no such thing as “a little too much salt” when it comes to your health. Salt overdoses can lead to negative symptoms, so it’s important to curb your salt intake.

Keep reading to learn all about the adverse effects of eating too much salt.

What Is Too Much Salt for Our Body?

Your body needs salt to work properly. Sodium is an electrolyte, and it helps regulate the amount of water in your body.

It also helps with nerve and muscle function. The recommended sodium intake is no more than 2,300 mg per day.

There are foods that we love to eat but are not necessarily healthy. You might ask, is spam healthy? You can do a little research on that.

However, read more below on what too much salt intake can do to your body.

Causes Hyponatremia

When someone has hyponatremia, it means they have low levels of sodium in their blood. Sodium is an electrolyte that helps regulate fluid balance in the body. Too much salt can cause the body to retain too much water, which can lead to hyponatremia.

Symptoms of hyponatremia include headache, confusion, nausea, and vomiting. Severe cases can cause seizures and coma. Hyponatremia is most often seen in athletes who drink too much water during competition.

Risk for Heart Disease and Stroke

If you consume too much salt, it can lead to an increase in blood pressure. High blood pressure is a risk factor for heart disease and stroke.

When you have high blood pressure, it means that your heart has to work harder to pump blood through your body. This can lead to atherosclerosis, which is the development of plaque in your arteries, which can restrict blood flow and cause a heart attack or stroke.

Experience Electrolyte Imbalance

Too much salt can lead to a drop in blood pressure and an increase in blood volume. The extra water in your blood can cause your blood vessels to swell and your body to retain water. This can lead to an electrolyte imbalance, which can cause serious health problems.

Lead to Weight Gain

If you eat too much salt, your body will retain water to dilute the high concentration of salt. This makes you feel bloated and can cause weight gain. Excess water also puts a strain on your heart and kidneys.

Too much salt can also lead to high blood pressure, which increases your risk of heart disease and stroke. It is important to limit your salt intake to prevent health problems.

Too Much Salt is Dangerous

Anything that is in excess is not good. The same goes for too much salt intake.

If not managed it can lead to more health hazards such as hyponatremia, the risk for heart disease, dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, weight gain, and many more. It is important to limit your salt intake and have a healthy diet to prevent these health problems.

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