What side effects could occur if you add salt to everything you eat?

Answer 1

Excess salt consumption has been linked to: * exercise-induced asthma. On the other hand, another source counters, "…we still don't know whether salt contributes to asthma. If there is a link then it's very weak…". * heartburn. * osteoporosis: One report shows that a high salt diet does reduce bone density in girls. Yet "While high salt intakes have been associated with detrimental effects on bone health, there are insufficient data to draw firm conclusions." (p3) * Gastric cancer (Stomach cancer) is associated with high levels of sodium, "but the evidence does not generally relate to foods typically consumed in the UK." ( p18) However, in Japan, salt consumption is higher. * hypertension (high blood pressure): "Since 1994, the evidence of an association between dietary salt intakes and blood pressure has increased. The data have been consistent in various study populations and across the age range in adults." (p3). "The CMO [Chief Medical Officer] of England, in his Annual Report (DH, 2001), highlighted that people with high blood pressure are three times more likely to develop Heart disease and stroke, and twice as likely to die from these diseases than those with normal levels."(p14). Professor Dr. Diederick Grobbee claims that there is no evidence of a causal link between salt intake and mortality or cardiovascular events. One study found that low urinary sodium is associated with greater risk of myocardial infarction among treated hypertensive men. * left ventricular hypertrophy (cardiac enlargement): "Evidence suggests that high salt intake causes left ventricular hypertrophy, a strong risk factor for cardiovascular disease, independently of blood pressure effects." (p3) "…there is accumulating evidence that high salt intake predicts left ventricular hypertrophy." (, p12) Excessive salt (sodium) intake, combined with an inadequate intake of water, can cause hypernatremia. It can exacerbate renal disease. * edema (BE: oedema): A decrease in salt intake has been suggested to treat edema (BE: oedema) (fluid retention). * duodenal ulcers and gastric ulcers A large scale study by Nancy Cook et alshows that people with high-normal[1] blood pressure who significantly reduced the amount of salt in their diet decreased their chances of developing cardiovascular disease by 25% over the following 10 to 15 years. Their risk of dying from cardiovascular disease decreased by 20%.

Sea salt and peppercorns.

A salt mill for sea salt.

This section summarizes the salt intake recommended by the health agencies of various countries. Recommendations tend to be similar. Note that targets for the population as a whole tend to be pragmatic (what is achievable) while advice for an individual is ideal (what is best for health). For example, in the UK target for the population is "eat no more than 6 g a day" but for a person is 4 g. Intakes can be expressed variously as salt or sodium and in various units. * 1 g sodium = 1,000 mg sodium = 42 mmol sodium = 2.5 g salt United Kingdom: In 2003, the UK's Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) recommended that, for a typical adult, the Reference Nutrient Intake is 4 g salt per day (1.6 g or 70 mmol sodium). However, average adult intake is two and a half times the Reference Nutrient Intake for sodium. "Although accurate data are not available for children, conservative estimates indicate that, on a body weight basis, the average salt intake of children is higher than that of adults." SACN aimed for an achievable target reduction in average intake of salt to 6 g per day (2.4 g or 100 mmol sodium) - this is roughly equivalent to a teaspoonful of salt. The SACN recommendations for children are: * 0-6 months old: less than 1 g/day * 7-12 months: 1 g/day * 1-3 years: 2 g/day * 4-6 years: 3 g/day * 7-10 years: 5 g/day * 11-14 years: 6 g/day SACN states, "The target salt intakes set for adults and children do not represent ideal or optimum consumption levels, but achievable population goals." Republic of Ireland: The Food Safety Authority of Ireland endorses the UK targets "emphasising that the RDA of 1.6 g sodium (4 g salt) per day should form the basis of advice targeted at individuals as distinct from the population health target of a mean salt intake of 6 g per day."(p16) Canada: Health Canada recommends an Adequate Intake (AI) and an Upper Limit (UL) in terms of sodium. * 0-6 months old: 0.12 g/day (AI) * 7-12 months: 0.37 g/day (AI) * 1-3 years: 1 g/day (AI) 1.5 g/day (UL) * 4-8 years: 1.2/day (AI) 1.9 g/day (UL) * 9-13 years: 1.5 g/day (AI) 2.2 g/day (UL) * 14-50 years: 1.5 g/day (AI) 2.3 g/day (UL) * 51-70 years: 1.3 g/day (AI) 2.3 g/day (UL) * 70 years and older: 1.2 g/day (AI) 2.3 g/day (UL) New Zealand * Adequate Intake (AI) 0.46 - 0.92 g sodium = 1.2 - 2.3g salt * Upper Limit (UL)) 2.3 g sodium = 5.8 g salt Australia: The recommended dietary intake (RDI) is 0.92 g-2.3 g sodium per day (= 2.3 g-5.8 g salt) USA: The Food and Drug Administration itself does not make a recommendation but refers readers to Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005. These suggest that US citizens should consume less than 2,300 mg of sodium (= 2.3 g sodium = 5.8 g salt) per day. Ref: en.wikipedia.org