Easy on the salt

Over consumption of salt especially if eaten raw, could lead to some seriously disastrous health complications.

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Over consumption of salt especially if eaten raw, could lead to some seriously disastrous health complications.You risk suffering from a number of diseases including high blood pressure, hepatitis B and C, gastric ulcers and some types of cancers according to a nutritionist in Rwanda.Gerald Ruzindana, a nutritionist with Health Inspirations, Kimironko, said that sodium regulates the acid base balance of blood and body fluids which can lead to heart burns and damage the digestive tract thus leading to digestive diseases."Consumption of too much salt can also lead to gastric ulcers and put you at a risk of some cancers. It’s better to cook the salt with the food and if you must add, let it be mild,” he advised.He suggested that a small tea spoon can be used to measure how much salt is enough, adding that it shouldn’t be more than that.Excess consumption of salt can also cause hypertension, according to the Food Quad website."People who consume large amounts of salt possess greater risk of suffering from stroke and cardiovascular diseases. Too much salt in food leads to loss of calcium and increases the risk of stomach cancer,” reads in part, Food Quad website.Excessive salt may also cause osteoporosis. According to information from the Harvard School of Public Health, high salt intake may also be linked to osteoporosis or thinning of the bones, as a result of loss of calcium. There are people who add salt to the food even before they taste it. These are more like salt addicts and just like all other addictions, this can lead to dire consequences.According to the NDTV website, India, it’s always better to consume less salt in order to have excellent health. Too much salt leads to heart disease and kidney problems. If you’ve been eating raw salt or too much of it, you might consider reducing it for the sake of your health.