15 things that happen to your body when you cut back on salt

Sodium is an important element that helps regulate fluid levels in the body and the vast majority of us actually consume way more than we need. One negative effect of too much salt? High blood pressure. “Substantial studies and evidence have linked sodium intake with hypertension,” says Dr Amin Yehya, an advanced heart failure cardiologist and author of the textbook, Heart Failure: What a Non-Heart Failure Specialist Needs to Know. Too much sodium causes the body to hold onto water to balance it out, leading to increased blood volume and pressure on the circulatory system.

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High blood pressure is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, so lowering blood pressure by reducing sodium intake can also lower your risk for heart attack and stroke. “Worldwide, 54 per cent of strokes and 47 per cent of heart disease are attributed to hypertension,” says Dr Yehya. “Excess sodium has blood pressure-independent effects promoting left ventricular hypertrophy [a pumping problem of the heart’s main chamber] as well as fibrosis [thickening and scarring] in the heart and arteries.” Although there has been some debate on the direct link between salt consumption and heart health, heat specialists remain convinced that sodium reduction is beneficial.

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Ever notice how your rings are tight after you eat a salty pizza or plate of french fries? That’s because the extra sodium causes your body to retain water. “Your kidneys are programmed to maintain a ratio of electrolytes, including sodium,” says registered dietitian Erin Palinski-Wade, author of Belly Fat Diet for Dummies. “When you consume too much sodium, this ratio gets thrown off, so your kidneys hold onto more water to balance it. When you reduce your sodium intake, this balance is shifted and the kidneys no longer hold onto the excess fluid, helping you to lose the water weight.”

By reducing sodium, you’ll automatically eat healthier food. This is because most salt in our diet doesn’t come from table salt – it comes from processed and prepared foods, which use high amounts of sodium as a preservative; they contain plenty of other unhealthy ingredients, as well. “If you start to shift your diet to include more whole, unprocessed food, this naturally helps to reduce sodium intake,” Palinski-Wade says. “In addition, this can help to reduce your intake of added sugars and refined carbohydrates while increasing fibre. This shift can promote a reduction in kilojoules with an increased feeling of fullness that can lead to weight loss.”

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Following a DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) of lots of fruits and vegetables can help reduce sodium. But, it’s also important to maintain enough potassium, which helps balance out sodium. “As sodium intake increases, the demand for potassium can increase as well,” Palinski-Wade says. “A low potassium intake with a high sodium intake can increase the risk of high blood pressure. Some research suggests that eating more potassium may reverse the effects of too much sodium in the diet, and diets rich in potassium have been shown to lower blood pressure levels.” Fruits, veggies and beans are excellent dietary sources of potassium. But those with kidney problems may have problems filtering excess potassium, so check with your doctor before increasing your intake.

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Less salt may help other organs besides your heart. High blood pressure can damage the kidneys and lead to kidney failure. Plus, “independent of its effects on blood pressure, excess sodium intake can affect the kidneys,” says Dr Yehya, even causing renal stones. In addition, too much sodium can up your risk for osteoporosis, as it increases how much calcium – crucially important for bone health – is excreted in urine. High sodium can also lead to impaired cognition in the brain through reduced blood flow.

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For people who already have high blood pressure, lifestyle remedies including reducing salt in the diet can be enough to avoid medications altogether. “Reduced sodium intake can lower the blood pressure and help in hypertension control,” Dr Yehya says. But a low sodium diet can even be effective if incorporated later. “Some patients might eventually be weaned off or have reduced doses of medications if they pursue a DASH diet and consume low sodium,” Dr Yehya says.

Researchers are still debating whether a low-salt diet can improve the health of people with normal blood pressure, but most still advise aiming for the daily recommended guidelines. The reason? Nearly one in three adults will develop hypertension. The recommended level of total sodium consumption is less than 1,500 mg a day. Talk to your doctor about the best limit for you. Hypertension has a way of silently descending on us.

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Your body does need some sodium: Although it’s relatively rare, too little salt can cause health troubles. “A few observational studies note that a ‘too low’ sodium diet can be harmful, but there is no general consensus on that,” Dr Yehya says. Too little sodium –known as hyponatremia – may be caused by a combination of overexertion, sweating too much, and drinking too much water (such as when running a marathon). Hyponatremia can also be a danger for people on diuretics (water pills) for high blood pressure, and those with congestive heart failure. Some people with low blood pressure may also need a higher salt intake, so check with your doctor before embarking on an extremely low-sodium diet.

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A high salt diet can lead to dehydration – and it can make you really thirsty. “Eating more sodium alone doesn’t cause you to pee more, but it can increase thirst – and as you drink more, you are more likely to excrete more urine,” Palinski-Wade says. “High sodium diets without additional fluid intake can, however, force the body to pull water out of other cells, which may increase the risk of dehydration.” Reducing your salt intake can help keep your fluid levels more balanced, with less risk of dehydration or trips to the toilet: One study showed lowering sodium led to fewer night time bathroom visits.

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