Why You Should Not Resort to Low Sodium Diet Despite Claims Too Much Salt Is Unhealthy?

Salt and pepper are staples in every household to add flavor to dishes. However, adding salt to our dish could increase our risk of cancer and other health problems, but taking too little is also not healthy.

Salt Increases the Risk of Several Diseases

Salt is used in processed meals to make them more tasty. However, too much salt is not healthy.

A new study from the Medical University of Vienna in Austria claimed that adding salt to food increases the risk of developing stomach cancer by 40%. It confirmed previous research that found a link between high salt consumption and stomach cancer in Asia, where foods are usually salty.

Stomach cancer is the third most prevalent cause of cancer-related mortality and the fifth most common type of cancer. Age, smoking, obesity, chronic stomach inflammation, and Helicobacter pylori infection are other risk factors for stomach cancer.

"Our research shows the connection between the frequency of added salt and stomach cancer in Western countries too," said study author Selma Kronsteiner-Gicevic, a researcher at MedUni Vienna's Center for Public Health.

Between 2006 and 2010, the researchers gathered and examined information from more than 470,000 persons throughout the United Kingdom. "How often do you add salt to your food?" was one of the survey's questions, and the answers were matched to the salt levels found in the urine of cancer patients.

They found that throughout an 11-year period, individuals who frequently or always added salt to their diet had a 39 percent higher risk of stomach cancer compared to those who added little to none at all.

Aside from stomach cancer, there were previous studies suggesting that salt could lead to several diseases. Regardless of the underlying cause, giving in to your salt appetite increases your risk of high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke.

Although most of us are aware of the risks associated with eating too much sugar, 75% of respondents to a recent British Heart Foundation survey said they don't pay close attention to how much sodium -- the main ingredient in salt -- they consume.

It's true that our bodies need some salt. Our bodily fluids must keep the right amount of salt in them for neurons and muscle cells, including the heart, to operate correctly. However, when the body absorbs too much salt, it holds onto water. This causes an increase in blood pressure, which puts stress on the kidneys, heart, and blood vessels.

Low Sodium Diet Warning

While too much salt is not healthy, not taking enough is also not good. Another study suggests that if you take too little sodium, it could affect your quality of sleep.

According to researchers, those on a low sodium diet experienced disturbed sleep patterns, particularly decreased rapid eye movement, slow wave sleep and increased wakefulness. The sleep changes were comparable to those in normal-aged adults who undergo elevations of daytime and nighttime plasma norepinephrine.

Additionally, Dr James DiNicolantonio, a cardiovascular research scientist, said that low salt intake can weaken bone health as it could strip you of essential minerals like calcium and magnesium.

A low-sodium diet is also linked to increased insulin resistance, increased risk of death from heart failure, and increased both LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglyceride levels. It can also lead to a condition called hyponatremia, which is characterized by low levels of sodium in the blood.

Its signs and symptoms are comparable to those of dehydration. When conditions are severe, the brain may swell, causing headaches, seizures, comas, and even death.

Check out more news and information on Medicine & Health in Science Times.