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Why is Salt Bad for You?

  • Writer: JAYDEN SARNO
    JAYDEN SARNO
  • 5 days ago
  • 3 min read

You have probably heard of friends or family telling you that you shouldn't eat so much salt, or if you are eating a very salty item at the moment, you have probably heard it's not good for you. Why?


Classification


To begin, we must clarify what we are referring to when we say salt. Salt is another name for an ionic compound, which consists of an orderly array of positively charged ions called cations, and negatively charged ions called anions. In this case, salt is slang for table salt, which is an ionic compound made up of a sodium cation and a chlorine anion (NaCl)


Table Salt.
Table Salt.

Table salt is found in underground salt deposits, such as those in China, the United States, India, Germany, Canada, and Australia. These salt deposits are remnants of ancient, dried up seabeds. It is mined and then sent to be processed at a facility, where they crush it and purify it to remove other minerals, often adding anti-caking agents to prevent coagulation, and iodine.


Salt Mines.
Salt Mines.

Though less common, NaCl in our foods is also found deep in live waterbeds, where water is directed and sent into a large pan or small pool to evaporate, and because water evaporates easily, NaCl is what’s left after the water vaporizes. This is commonly called “Sea Salt.”


Sea Salt Pans.
Sea Salt Pans.

Electrolytes


Table salt (NaCl) is essential for survival as it contains key components used in critical bodily processes. When NaCl dissolves into your digestive system, it becomes (Na⁺) and (Cl⁻).

These ions are called electrolytes because the free-moving ions in the solution are charged particles that can carry an electric current.


NaCl dissolved into ions in water.
NaCl dissolved into ions in water.

Natural Purpose


Sodium (Na) is one of the main ions outside of your cells. Thus, it controls osmosis, determining how much water stays in or out of our cells and preventing cells from shrinking or bursting, because water can be added or taken out of these cells to revert this condition.


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Osmosis


Sodium is also crucial for the transmission of nerve signals throughout the body including muscular signals. Sodium ions create an action potential by rushing into the neuron and triggering an electrical signal. This is followed by Potassium rushing out of the neuron, and Calcium rushing into the terminus of the neuron. Muscle contractions, and more specifically, heart contractions, would not be possible without the existence of sodium in the body.


Charges of a Neuron.
Charges of a Neuron.

  Much related to the first function, sodium attracts water into the blood stream. More water in the blood stream means a higher blood pressure. A moderate amount of blood pressure is necessary for survival and it varies by age. Sodium, with co-transportation, helps transport glucose, amino acids, and water across the intestinal wall into the bloodstream. Finally, Chlorine ions help form Hydrochloric acid to maintain the body’s pH, which is another name for our stomach acid, which helps us digest foods.


Why is it bad?


Table salt isn't inherently bad for you, it is just bad in excess, or in rare cases, lack of. Many things in life are best in moderation, and table salt is a perfect example of that. Below I will mention the cons of having too much table salt, because that is a far more common problem right now in the U.S. than the lack of.


Cons of Excess


As stated previously, sodium can control your blood pressure by pulling water into the blood stream. However if you consume too much salt, there becomes even more water in your blood stream. This can raise your blood pressure to abnormal levels and if excess salt is consumed chronically, this can lead to the condition known as hypertension (High Blood Pressure) which can put someone at risk for many health problems, including heart attacks and strokes, kidney problems, and even eye problems.


A Blood Pressure Monitor
A Blood Pressure Monitor

When you consume too much salt, your kidneys also work harder in order to get rid of it, leading to more excretions of sodium. This is done by peeing, which also unfortunately flushes out calcium out of the body. Your body needs calcium, evident by our neurological processes. As a result, your body draws calcium out from your bones instead. Over time this can weaken the bone structure and lead to osteoporosis. 


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Conclusion


To clarify, none of this information in this article is medical advice as that is solely information you should only garner from your doctor. This is lifestyle advice, in which table salt in moderation is best for most people. 



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