In China, there is a significant difference in taste between the north and the south, especially in the north where people prefer a stronger taste. Many people believe that without enough salt, the food loses its flavor. Some housewives have the concept of "salty is tasty", "a good chef uses a lot of salt", and "salty food is more appetizing". However, long-term consumption of excessive salt can cause significant damage to the body.
Diseases such as hypertension, gastritis, peptic ulcers, and upper respiratory tract infections are all results of excessive salt intake. This situation also exists in many families, where some parents have a strong preference for salty food. As a result, children also consume salty food, which can lead to early onset of hypertension. The reason why excessive salt consumption is harmful is that when people eat too much salt, they naturally drink more water, which increases the burden on the heart and kidneys, leading to various diseases.
Salt is something that people cannot live without but should not consume too much of. The World Health Organization recommends a daily salt intake of no more than 6 grams per person. When salt enters the body with food, it is completely absorbed by the digestive system. Therefore, the normal daily salt requirement for each person is only 1 gram. However, considering factors such as natural excretion, the World Health Organization recommends a salt intake of 3-5 grams per day, which is also an important measure to prevent hypertension. After salt enters the body with food, except for the small amount of salt needed by the body, the rest will be excreted through urine and sweat. Some experts at home and abroad believe that excessive salt consumption is a major cause of hypertension. In addition, excessive salt intake is also the main culprit for osteoporosis.
Scientists believe that regularly consuming salt-free meals can help balance the osmotic pressure inside and outside cells, thereby releasing some factors that are harmful to cells. For those who consume too much salt, they should regularly eat light food or reduce the amount of salt used in cooking. For those who often travel or cannot have regular meals at home, they have less control over the salt content in their food. Therefore, it is recommended to have a salt-free meal once a week. A salt-free meal can not only reduce salt intake, but also cleanse the digestive system and blood vessels, not only allowing the digestive system to be cleaned in a timely manner, but also balancing the osmotic pressure in the body, providing protection for health.
Of course, salt-free meals should not be too frequent, with a maximum of 2 times per week. Salt is still an important factor in maintaining the stability of the body's internal environment. If the intake is too low, it can also disrupt the ion balance in the body, which is harmful to health.
Here, we would like to remind parents that taste preferences are formed from a young age. Nowadays, childcare experts also recommend controlling children's diets from infancy, so that they develop a habit of eating light food from a young age. If you are already used to a strong taste, experts suggest using vinegar, onions, garlic, chili, mustard, and other seasonings instead of salt, which may also increase appetite.
Friendly reminder from the editor
In most households, there is a habit of adding soy sauce when stir-frying dishes, as adding soy sauce not only enhances the flavor of the dishes but also makes them more appetizing. I don't know if everyone has noticed when buying soy sauce that there are different types for cooking and seasoning, but most people usually only prepare one type at home and use it for both stir-frying and mixing dishes, which can easily harm people's health. Therefore, when buying soy sauce, it is important to distinguish its intended use.
Soy sauce should be cooked before consumption as it may contain some bacteria, which are generally killed when heated. If stir-frying dishes, cooking soy sauce is suitable for cooking, while seasoning soy sauce is more suitable for mixing dishes.
