The Science of Salt, and How to Cut Back

What’s the latest science on salt? It’s addictive, it’ll make you fat, and it can kill you. That’s according to Prevention magazine. They say salt is one of the most dangerous ingredients in the food we eat – and the one people pay the least attention to. Excess salt can cause high blood pressure, heart attacks and stroke, as well as osteoporosis, dementia, cancer and other serious health problems. Since salty foods are usually also packed with fat and calories, it can add inches to your waist. The news about salt is so bad, the U.S. government is revising sodium health guidelines downward. They now recommend no more than 1,500 milligrams a day for an adult. That’s two-thirds of a teaspoon. However, most of us get double what’s recommended. Most of the salt we get comes from processed and packaged foods, like commercial crackers, cookies, cereal, soup, frozen dinners, and pasta sauces, which pack in the salt to boost flavor, protect color and texture, and prevent spoilage. That doesn’t even cover fast food and other restaurant meals.

Scientists point out your body does need a little salt to maintain the right balance of fluids, transmit nerve impulses, and work your muscles. However, when you eat a lot more than the necessary 500 milligrams a day, it triggers the release of the feel-good chemical dopamine – which makes salt as addictive as nicotine and alcohol. The more salty foods you eat, the more you crave. Salt also changes the way your body uses fat. A high-salt diet boosts the production of insulin, and the more insulin you have, the more fat you store, and the more weight you gain. Salt also makes you thirsty, and that’s a problem, since we tend to turn to sodas to quench our thirst. However, sodas are also full of sodium!

So, how can you cut back on salt? Eliminate processed and packaged food, restaurant meals, sodas and alcohol for two weeks. That’s how long it takes to get a whole new set of taste buds. Cutting excess sodium will also boost your metabolism and increase your energy, and it’ll help you feel thinner, because you’ll drop water weight from bloating.