Salt is an important part of our food because it helps our muscles contract, our nerves work, and our bodies keep the right amount of fluid in their bodies. When eaten in large amounts, though, it can hurt you more than help. Because prepared and packed foods are so common, a lot of people eat a lot more salt than they need to, which is very bad for their health.

Want to learn more about how eating a lot of salt can hurt you? Here are some reasons why cutting back on salt is important for your health in the future!

High blood pressure
Eating too much salt is one of the things that can cause high blood pressure. When the body takes in too much salt, it holds on to more water to help lower the amount of salt in the blood. This extra amount of blood puts more pressure on the walls of blood vessels, which leads to high blood pressure. Hypertension that isn’t under control can damage blood vessels, heart muscle, and other systems over time, which makes heart disease and stroke much more likely. Cutting back on salt can successfully lower blood pressure and the health risks that come with it.

Boosts the chance of heart problems
Salt not only raises blood pressure, but it also hurts heart health in a roundabout way. Heart attacks and heart failure have been linked to eating a lot of salt. The heart can get stressed when it has to pump blood faster to keep the circulation going. This stress could make the heart muscles thicker, which raises the risk of heart failure.

Taking away calcium from bones
Too much salt in the diet can also hurt the health of your bones. The body tends to get rid of more calcium through pee when salt levels are high. This loss of calcium, an element that is important for keeping bones strong, can weaken bone structure over time, making it more likely that someone will break a bone or get osteoporosis. Cutting back on salt can help keep bones healthy and lower the risk of not getting enough calcium.

Makes kidneys work harder
The kidneys are very important for keeping the blood from having too much water and salt in it. If you eat too much salt, your kidneys have to work harder to get rid of the extra. Long-term high salt intake can put stress on the kidneys, making it harder for them to keep the body’s mineral and fluid balance. This could cause the body to hold on to water, which can cause oedema in the hands, feet, or legs.