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How much salt do we require a day?
Answer: It is only 3 grams. Most of us
average about 10 to 12 grams of salt a day.
That means we are taking more than 3 times
of salt every day, than our actual
requirement.
What happens when we take salt in excess?
Water retention in the body is increased,
which in turn leads to excess weight and
obesity. This also leads to contamination of
blood. This causes an added burden on the
Kidneys. In the long run it may lead to
hypertension and Kidney damage.
In our bodies, potassium eliminates are
important constituents of fluids inside and
outside the cells. Proper concentration of
these (inside and outside the cells) is
essential to maintain the osmotic balance
and to keep the cells in proper shape.
Sodium and Potassium are present in all
foods, particularly on plant foods like
fruits and vegetables. In plant foods,
potassium is present in higher
concentrations than sodium by a factor of 1
to 5 fold. Potassium present in a vegetarian
diet is adequate to meet our requirements
each day. When we take salt in excess, (more
than 3 grams in day), it affects the osmotic
balance of the cells. This may lead to
hypertension. On the other hand when we take
sufficient quantities of fruits and
vegetables daily, especially in the raw
form, our body metabolism will be in order.
This is more so because when we take plant
foods on the raw form, no salt will be
required. Natural mineral salts available in
such foods will be intact until we eat them,
and the potassium in such foods will
maintain the osmotic balance in cells. |
