Nowadays, a healthy diet is advocated as a "light lifestyle". However, blindly promoting a low-salt diet can also be harmful to health due to insufficient salt intake. Let's take a look at the disadvantages of consuming too little salt on health!
General fatigue
Sodium ions in table salt are essential substances for transmitting information in the nervous system. Muscle contraction and heartbeats are also related to sodium ions. Therefore, a lack of salt in the body will weaken the nervous system, resulting in symptoms such as limb weakness. In severe cases, symptoms such as vomiting, accelerated heart rate, weak pulse, muscle spasms, and blurred vision may occur.
Predisposition to goiter
Most of the salt sold in the market is iodized salt, which can prevent goiter. A lack of iodine can lead to goiter, so consuming too little salt increases the risk of goiter.
Osteoporosis
A lack of salt is one of the causes of osteoporosis. A certain amount of salt must be maintained in the blood. If salt is insufficient, it will be drawn from the bones. Nighttime muscle cramps are often a sign of salt deficiency. During sweating and excretion, a portion of salt is excreted through sweat and urine. If not replenished in time, muscle spasms can occur. This is why many people need to replenish with diluted saltwater after intense exercise.
Decreased appetite
Salt is an important seasoning that can stimulate saliva secretion and induce appetite. Food without enough salt or without salt at all will greatly decrease a person's appetite.
In addition, consuming too little salt and insufficient intake of sodium ions can lead to acid-base imbalance in the body. This can affect the secretion of gastric digestive juices, weaken the action of gastric protease, and cause indigestion, which also affects appetite.
Increased cancer risk
A low salt content in the body can even trigger the initiation of cancer. Due to insufficient salt intake, acid accumulates in some cells, resulting in high acidity levels within the cells. This can damage the structure of DNA and increase the likelihood of cancer.
Helpful tips
A healthy diet should control daily salt intake between 4-6 grams. Nowadays, a "light lifestyle" is advocated in society, but there should also be a bottom line. Consuming too little salt is also harmful to the body's health.
