The Impact Sugar and Salt Have on Your Body and Life
The one thing that
sugar and salt have most in common is that they taste good with a huge variety
of different foods. Unfortunately, both of them are also difficult to consume
in moderation.
Even if you avoid sugary sweets and salty snack foods, salt and sugar can both
find their way into your diet as a part of the recipes that you prepare. What
sort of harm can sugar and salt cause to your body? Here are just a few of the
reasons that you should really try to cut down.
Too Much Salt Raises Blood Pressure
Salt is the average American’s main source of sodium, a dietary mineral that
the body needs. Sodium helps with muscle function, as well as maintaining the
fluid balance in your body. However, if your kidneys aren’t able to keep up
with the amount of sodium you consume, your body retains water in order to help
dilute it.
Why is this bad? Much of this fluid is then pulled into your blood vessels,
which increases your blood volume and creates more pressure within the vessels.
Increased blood pressure also increases your risk of heart attack or stroke.
Excessive Sodium Causes Kidney Damage
High blood pressure isn’t the only problem caused by the strain that excessive
sodium puts on your kidneys. Processing all of this sodium can also take its
toll on them, resulting in a loss of function. A high-sodium diet could also
make you more likely to experience kidney stones.
Too Much Sugar Could Lead to Liver Disease
When you eat sugar, your body breaks it down into fructose and glucose. Glucose
is naturally found in your body, as well as in every other living thing.
Fructose, on the other hand, is not produced by your body. All of the fructose
that you take in has to be processed, by your liver. And, if your liver is
overloaded, it turns excess fructose into fat. This can lead to a condition
called non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, which could in turn lead to cancer of
the liver.
Sugar and Insulin Resistance
Insulin is a hormone produced by your body, and it’s essential in processing
glucose. It is what allows the glucose in your bloodstream to enter your cells
so that they can utilize them for energy. But, in a diet that is high in sugar,
insulin isn’t as effective as it should be. Your cells build a sort of
resistance to it and your body therefore needs more in order to function. This
growing insulin resistance is a primary cause of diseases such as diabetes and
cardiovascular disease.
Trying to cut down on salt or sugar is tough! But, doing so can prevent serious
damage to your body. Make sure you check the nutrition facts on everything you
eat and keep salt and sugar consumption down to a minimum. The impact on your
health will be well worth the effort.
