If you are under the impression
that salt is just another way to
decrease your health and add to
your waistline, then you should
know there are benefits to
adding a little salt to your diet.
Salt plays a role in water
retention, muscle contraction,
and contains nutrients that are
vital to your stomach. Salt in
moderation is actually very
important to your diet. Check out
why:
Salt Helps Retain Water in the
Body
Our bodies rely on electrolytes,
including salt, to help carry out
electrical impulses that control
many of our bodies’ functions. To
keep our bodies functioning as
they should, our bodies need the
proper amount of electrolytes.
Electrolytes trigger thirst
mechanism, which cause us to
consume adequate amounts of
water. With this water, our
kidneys are able to keep the
appropriate amount of
electrolytes in our bloodstream.
The amount of water our bodies
retain also impact blood
pressure. Think about it: a lot of
bars and restaurants provide
complimentary salty snacks. Why?
They make you thirsty and
wanting to purchase more
drinks!
Salt Stimulates Muscle Contraction
Salt is important to the nerves, as
it stimulates muscle contraction;
this will also help prevent your
muscles from cramping. Salt also
keeps calcium and other minerals
in the bloodstream. It also
stimulates the adrenal glands.
Salt is also very important in the
prevention of heat prostration
and sunstroke, which is very
important to remember during
hot summer months.
Salt Contains Nutrients Vital to
the Digestive System
Salt plays a primary role in the
processes of digestion and
absorption. Salt activates an
enzyme in the mouth called
salivary amylase. At this point, the
salt allows your taste buds to
taste the food. Salt also plays a
role in digestion by helping to
break down food. Salt also
creates hydrochloric acid.
Hydrochloric acid is a very
important digestive secretion,
which lines the stomach walls.
Salt actually helps your body
digest food, rather than trying to
eat itself.
A Lack of Salt Is Dangerous
A sodium deficiency is a health
condition where a body fails to
receive an adequate supply of
sodium. Sodium deficiency can
become extremely prevalent in
excessive temperatures, which
cause the body to perspire
heavily and patterns of
dehydration will set in. Sodium
deficiency can lead to shock if
the blood pressure is decreased
too severely. Salt is important to
good nutritional status. Too little
can cause disturbances in tissue-
water and acid-base balance,
which is important to good
nutrition.
Remember, diets too high in
sodium can lead to high water
retention and hypertension.
Overall, salt is generally nontoxic
to adults, provided it is excreted
properly. The maximum amount
of sodium that should be
incorporated into a healthy diet
should range from 2,400-3,000
mg/day.
Like us on Facebook: https://
www.facebook.com/
consultainment
