Aunt Li is over 60 years old this year, and she is a health expert. Get up early every day and exercise in the morning, and you can't pay attention to your diet. But there is one thing that Aunt Li has never been able to change, that is, the taste is heavy, and she especially likes to eat salty.
One day, Aunt Li met an old friend Uncle Zhang in the park, and Uncle Zhang told her that she had recently read a news item that was researched by Peking University, saying that if the salt at home was replaced with low-sodium salt, many people would die less every year! When Aunt Li heard this, she sighed in her heart, eating too much salt is really not a good thing.
When she got home, Aunt Li quickly took out her mobile phone and searched it, and sure enough, she saw the news, saying that eating low-sodium salt can significantly reduce all-cause deaths. She began to mumble in her heart, she had eaten this salt for so many years, and she suddenly had to change it, and she was really a little unaccustomed to it. But thinking about health, Aunt Li decided to give it a try.
After changing to low-sodium salt, Aunt Li found that the taste was not much worse. But does this salt really make her healthier?
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In China, the food culture has a long history, and in the taste preferences, salty taste occupies a position that cannot be ignored. Many people like to add more salt when cooking, believing that it tastes more delicious.
However, in recent years, there has been a growing discussion about the relationship between salt intake and health, and there is even a view that "eating salty food leads to longevity". So, what is the truth?
First of all, we need to understand that the main component of salt is sodium chloride, and sodium is one of the minerals necessary for the normal physiological functions of the human body. However, when sodium is consumed in excess, it can have adverse effects on physical health.
Excessive sodium intake can lead to an increase in blood pressure because sodium ions accumulate in the blood, increasing blood volume, which in turn increases the burden on the heart. Long-term high blood pressure increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, kidney disease, etc., thereby shortening life expectancy.
The idea that "you live longer if you eat salty" may stem from the conclusions of some observational studies. These studies may have found that residents in certain areas have a high salt intake, but at the same time they live relatively long.
However, this association does not directly prove that high salt intake is the cause of longevity. Because observational studies can only reveal correlations between variables, not causal relationships.
In other words, the long life expectancy of residents in these areas may be related to other factors, such as genetics, lifestyle habits, medical conditions, etc.
There are three abnormalities in the body, and it is time to reduce salt
When our bodies consume too much salt, there are some telltale signals that we should reduce our salt intake. Here are three common physical abnormalities that need our attention.
First of all, a dry mouth and thirst are common manifestations of excessive salt intake. When we consume too much salt, the body needs more water to balance the salt concentration in the body. This causes us to feel thirsty frequently, which cannot be relieved even by drinking water.
If you find yourself feeling dry and dry on a regular basis, then you need to be wary of the possibility of too much salt.
Secondly, thickened fingers can also be a sign of excessive salt intake. A high-salt diet can lead to sodium and water retention, which increases the amount of water in the body's tissues.
This can make areas such as the fingers appear thicker and sometimes even edema. If you notice that your fingers are thicker than you used to be, and there is no other obvious reason to explain this, then you need to consider whether you are consuming too much salt.
Finally, frequent urination can also be a sign of excessive salt intake. When the body consumes too much salt, the kidneys need to work overtime to flush the excess salt out of the body.
Is low sodium good? Studies have found that low sodium reduces all-cause mortality
In order to reduce salt intake, many people have begun to choose low-sodium salt as a seasoning for daily cooking. So, is low-sodium really good, and can it help us reduce health risks?
We need to understand the difference between low-sodium salt and regular salt. Low-sodium salt is made on the basis of ordinary table salt by reducing the sodium content and adding a certain amount of potassium.
The aim is to reduce sodium intake while maintaining the basic taste of table salt, thereby reducing the risk of high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.
Several studies have shown that using low-sodium salt instead of regular salt does help reduce blood pressure and the risk of cardiovascular disease. This is because the potassium in low-sodium salts helps the body flush out excess sodium, which lowers blood pressure.
At the same time, reducing sodium intake can also reduce the burden on the heart and kidneys and reduce the risk of related diseases.