How much salt causes heart problems?
Learn how salt can harm your health,
Sodium, which we mostly get from eating salt, is essential for a number of body functions. Nervous function is one of them, for example, or muscle flexibility. However, new research examined the relationship between consuming too much salt and the risk of heart problems. The researchers examined available data from a North Karelia salt study and the national FINRISK study, both conducted in Finland between 1979 and 2002. The scientists studied 4,630 men and women, between 25 and 64 years old. They were asked to fill out a questionnaire in which participants were asked about their health habits, body mass index (BMI), height and blood pressure were also measured. Blood tests and urine samples were taken. Participants were followed clinically for almost 12 years. During this time the researchers had access to their National Health Records. And so they obtained information on the incidence of new heart failures and deaths related to heart failure. People who consumed more than 13.7 grams of salt per day were found to have a two-fold increased risk of heart failure compared to those who consumed less than 6.8 grams. The World Health Organization recommends eating a maximum of 5g per day (a teaspoon of salt has more or less 5.8g) And yes, more research is necessary, but up to this point we can say that a lot of salt is definitely harmful to the body.**
