Sodium and Health Risks

Sodium stands as a crucial nutrient essential for a balanced diet. Unprocessed foods, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, meats, and dairy items, typically have low sodium content. The main contributor to salt intake in human diets comes from commercially prepared foods, as opposed to the salt used in home-cooked meals or added at the table.

Examples of high-sodium foods encompass smoked, cured, salted, or canned meat, fish, or poultry, like bacon, cold cuts, ham, frankfurters, sausage, sardines, caviar, and anchovies. Additionally, frozen breaded meats and prepared dinners, such as burritos and pizza, also exhibit elevated sodium levels.

An excess of sodium poses challenges for the kidneys, resulting in water retention in the body. This heightened water and blood volume impose added pressure on blood vessels, compelling the heart to work more strenuously. Prolonged exposure to elevated sodium levels may contribute to various health issues, including high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, calcium depletion from bones, harm to the heart, aorta, and kidneys, obesity, and even stomach cancer. Heart disease and stroke collectively constitute the leading causes of death in the United States each year. It is significant to note that a majority of Americans consume at least 1.5 teaspoons of salt per day, equivalent to around 3400 mg of sodium, surpassing the actual requirements of the body.
Sodium and Health Risks