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Why is eating too much salt unhealthy? |
Nutrition
Have you ever finished a snack of popcorn or pretzels, then needed to drink a glass of water? Salt, also known as sodium, sure can make you thirsty! Salt helps your body do some pretty big jobs, such as sending important signals called nerve impulses, contracting and relaxing your muscles, and keeping a healthy blood pressure and balance of fluids.
But too much salt is not good for you! Your kidneys help keep a balanced level of sodium in your body. Eating a large amount of food high in salt makes the kidneys work much harder. If your kidneys can’t filter out enough of the salt, it then goes to your blood, which can cause your heart to have to work extra hard to pump the blood through your body! Salt can also cause high blood pressure and other health problems, especially if a person is sensitive to salt.
The good news: You can make healthy choices! Keep reading for some helpful tips…
When it comes to eating a salt-healthy diet, it’s not just as simple as deciding to give the salt shaker a rest. Some of the food that is already packaged and assembled when you buy it at the store can be high in salt, like frozen meals and canned soups or sauces. Grown-ups and kids can work together to check food labels that list salt (sodium) levels, then choose foods with lower levels to create a balanced diet! Eating plenty of fresh foods, such as fruits and vegetables, is another healthy way to limit the amount of salt you eat. Here’s to healthy munching!
