Many of us try to consume less salt, and some completely refuse this product, believing that it is unhealthy. But how correct is this?
Experts say salt is an essential electrolyte that helps our bodies function properly. Thus, avoiding salt altogether, if not necessary, can cause some problems. Primarily hyponatremia. Before you completely eliminate salt from your life, try to understand how your body will respond to this change. You may have chosen one of the many salt-free diets and are about to start sticking to it. We will tell you how low blood sodium levels affect our health and how important it is to consult a specialist before making such decisions. Here are the problems we can face by uncontrollably eliminating salt from our lives.
You can start gaining weight
Iodized salt is important for our hormones, and if you completely cut your salt intake, in this case iodized salt, your iodine stores are reduced to a minimum. As a result, problematic and dry skin, muscle weakness, fatigue, weight gain.
May affect the heart
A low-sodium diet is said to provide many benefits, especially for people with heart problems. But this may not apply to everyone, especially if you have a healthy heart! In addition, some studies show that deviating salt intake in one direction or the other can exacerbate existing heart disease.
May increase insulin resistance
Studies have shown that a lack of sodium in the diet can affect insulin resistance. This means that our body will not respond adequately to insulin, which can lead to high blood glucose levels.
Possible symptoms of dehydration
When sodium levels in your blood drop, you may experience the same symptoms as if you are dehydrated. Specifically, dry mouth, dizziness, increased thirst, and reduced urge to urinate may be associated with low sodium levels.
You may start to feel nauseous.
Avoiding salt can also affect cholesterol levels. Although this usually does not appear early, it can affect different parts of the body, most notably the heart. One of the symptoms associated with these processes is nausea.