The harmful effects of salt on your health

The kidneys are considered vital organs. They’re responsible for filtering your blood in order to remove toxins and excess fluid. Their job is to maintain a balanced level of water, salt and minerals in your blood. [2]

Every day, your two kidneys purify an average of 180 litres of blood. However, when you consume a lot of salt, it becomes more difficult for your kidneys to remove fluids from your blood because one of the properties of salt is to retain fluids. These fluids then accumulate in your body, causing serious consequences for your health.

It should be noted that salt affects people differently. Some people are not affected at all by salt consumption, while others are very sensitive to it. Our genetics dictates our degree of sensitivity. For those with high sensitivity, very small amounts of salt can greatly affect their kidneys’ ability to regulate fluids properly, which increases their blood pressure. [3]

Too much salt intake causes a buildup of salt and fluids in your body. This buildup can manifest itself in different ways: [4]

• Thirst
• Water retention
• High blood pressure
• Swelling (e.g., the ankles)
• Shortness of breath

Read more: Is detoxifying the kidneys really necessary?

When the kidneys don’t work properly, it’s called kidney dysfunction. This dysfunction must be taken seriously because it can have major consequences on the heart and blood pressure.

It’s possible that kidney dysfunction can lead to hypertension (i.e., high blood pressure). High blood pressure makes your blood vessels stiffer and narrower, which restricts blood flow. As a result, the heart needs to pump more vigorously to get the blood through these small vessels, thereby increasing blood pressure. Despite this extra effort, less blood and oxygen is delivered to the organs.

When the heart is required to pump vigorously, especially over long periods of time, its left ventricle can enlarge and the heart muscle can weaken, increasing the risk of heart failure.

But the problem is even greater because high blood pressure aggravates kidney disease. It’s a real vicious circle. Hypertension increases the filtering pressure of the kidneys, which can cause scarring. Such scarring compromises the kidneys’ ability to regulate fluids, increasing blood pressure. [5]

We don’t always realize how much salt we consume. Pay close attention to your habits; for example, do you salt your food before even tasting it?

As well, pay attention to the prepared meals you purchase and restaurant meals you order, as they often contain significant amounts of salt. For example, processed meats, chips, crackers, soups, canned vegetables, cheese and even breakfast cereals are usually loaded with sodium.

To make wise choices, look at the Nutrition Facts table before you buy a product. The sodium content is clearly indicated: first in milligrams (mg), then as a percentage of the Daily Value based on the maximum recommended amount (2,400 mg). [6]

Salt is mainly used to add flavour to dishes. If your meals are less flavourful after removing salt from your diet, you can always season them with herbs and spices instead.

There are also healthier options than foods containing large amounts of salt. Refer to the following table for examples. [7]

Consumed in moderation, salt isn’t harmful to your health. However, too much salt can lead to serious problems, including kidney damage, high blood pressure and heart problems.

You can reduce your salt intake by making informed choices, eating home-cooked meals and reading nutrition labels on foods.

We provide services that can help your doctor diagnose kidney-related disorders, determine the appropriate treatment and follow up on your progress.

• Blood electrolytes (sodium, potassium, etc.)
• Creatinine and eGFR measurements
• Routine urinalysis to detect certain proteins
• Microalbuminuria testing
• Abdominal ultrasound
• ECG, Holter (continuous electrocardiogram monitoring)
• ABPM (continuous blood pressure monitoring)
• Cardiac ultrasound
• Lipid profile and diabetes screening

Do you have a doctor's prescription on hand for one of these tests? Book an appointment online or contact Biron Health Group’s customer service at 1 833 590-2712.