Read on to learn about the drawbacks and health risks of having too much salt in your diet.
It Can Make You Bloated
When eating foods high in sodium, you can become bloated and puffy around the face, hands, abdomen, and feet. When the body takes in too much sodium, it causes an imbalance in the fluid levels, leading to water retention and bloating. The reason being that the body tries to dilute the excess sodium by holding on to more water.
It Can Make You Gain Weight
A study has shown that there is a direct correlation between high sodium diets and obesity. However, this isn't the result of water retention that most people notice on the scales after eating salty foods. Experts have not fully researched the link between the two, but high levels of sodium can negatively impact your metabolism, leading to weight gain.
It Can Hurt Your Heart and Blood Vessel Health
This health risks associated with consuming too much salt are connected to the bloating previously mentioned. Water retention can lead to an increase in blood volume and pressure. As a result, this puts strain on the blood vessels, making them less elastic and more prone to damage. Over time, the condition can develop into higher blood pressure which may lead to stroke and heart disease.