The Weird and Unexpected Consequences of Eating too Much Salt

Eating too much salt is an affliction that affects the vast majority of people in this country. Guidelines suggest we should be getting around 4 grams of the stuff every day, but the average person may be eating more than three times that amount. 

Salt is usually seen as either benign or a cause of high blood pressure. However, it can also affect the body in other insidious ways. 

Puffiness 

For example, you may notice that salt makes your face look puffier over time. This happens because salt causes the body to retain water. The more you eat of it, the puffier your body looks. 

Unfortunately, this isn’t the same as the hydrated look you get when you eat hyaluronic acid precursors, like fiber. Instead, it is something that comes from dysfunctional behavior of the blood vessels and tissues under the skin. 

Furthermore, it’s not just cosmetic damage. Eating more than the safe level of sodium is associated with increased strain on the kidneys and circulatory system. 

More Sugar Cravings

Ironically, eating saltier things can also intensify sugar cravings. Eating large amounts can change your taste preferences, making you want things that taste sweeter than normal. 

Unfortunately, this approach is somewhat of a compounding problem. When you eat more salt, it can actually worsen the body’s ability to take up sugar, while also encouraging you to eat more of it. This cycle eventually becomes vicious, leading to conditions like obesity and diabetes. 

Higher Instance of Lung Problems

Eating too much salt can also lead to a higher instance of lung-related problems, including asthma. People who eat less salt often find that their symptoms improve significantly, or go away entirely.

Of course, you should see an asthma specialist to learn more about your condition and the treatments available. But passing on the table salt and eating less baked goods are two of the best ways to get more salt out of your diet (low-hanging fruit). 

Weakened Bones

High salt intake could also lead to weakened bones. There’s a fear in the medical literature that consuming too much sodium leads to calcium buffering in the urine, reducing bone density. 

In the short term, a bit of salt is unlikely to hurt. But if you keep up the habit, it can start to cause significant damage. Eventually, it could lead to frailty, especially after a lifetime of eating too much salt. 

Worsening Skin Conditions

Excessive salt intake may also worsen skin conditions by, ironically, increasing the risk of dehydration. These can make things like acne and eczema worse, increasing water retention. 

These effects are worrying on the surface, but they are even more concerning when they go deeper into the body. For example, kidney hydration imbalances can be a big problem for some patients. 

Nighttime Trips to the Toilet

Finally, eating too much salt can lead to frequent night time visits to the toilet. Often, you have to get up while you are sleeping to pass urine before you get back into bed. Again, salt is the culprit.