The other story of salt: a life saver

Dubai: “A healthy body, on a balanced diet, will naturally excrete excess salt,” said Dr Nausheen Khan, iCARE Multispecialty Clinics, Dubai.

This, inarguably, is the best health tip you would have ever received. But, and this is the big question, how many of us have this kind of healthy body that can get rid of excess salt on its own and leave us free of all the various diseases high-salt consumption brings?

Truth is, salt is not the culprit. In fact, it is critical for good health. You can totally cut out refined sugar in your diet for health reasons but think twice when it comes to salt, said Dr Khan.

A gram of table salt is made up of 40 per cent sodium and 60 per cent chlorine. Both play a vital part in proper functioning of our body.

Nerve impulses are transmitted through the help of sodium. It also regulates electrical charges in and out of our cells and the body’s fluid balance.

“The most important role of sodium is that it helps in the contraction of our muscles most importantly the heart muscle. Salt prevents our muscles from getting cramps. It keeps calcium and other minerals in the blood stream and also stimulates the adrenal glands thereby maintaining blood pressure and electrolyte balance,” Dr Khan said.

“It is recommended to keep a daily intake of sodium to 2400mg/day. Deficiency of Sodium or sodium levels below 135mEq/L can cause brain cells to swell, causing altered mental status, lethargy and confusion. If the levels fall below 115meg/L, stupor, muscle twitching or spasm, seizures, coma or even death can occur.”

Bottomline: It’s you who makes salt look bad by eating far too much of it.

20 facts about salt

1. Salt plays an important role in the prevention of heat prostration and sun stroke.

2. Plays a primary role in the process of digestion and absorption. Salivary Amylase is activated by salt, thus making us taste our food. Salt plays a vital role in digestion of food. It makes hydrochloric acid which is an important digestive enzyme that lines the stomach wall.

3. Important for the brain cells to function properly from birth to death.

4. Effective in stabilising irregular heartbeats. Along with water, it regulates blood pressure.

5. Important for balancing sugar levels in blood.

6. Important for local power generation at cellular level where energy is needed.

7. A strong natural anti-histamine, salt is helpful in clearing up congested sinuses. It helps in clearing the lungs of sticky phlegm and mucus plugs.

8. Helps in absorbing food particles through the intestinal tract.

9. Plays a vital role in balancing the production of saliva. If it were not for salt, excessive drooling could occur during sleep.

10. Prevents our body from getting muscle cramps by stimulating muscle contraction.

11. Firms up bones.

12. Regulates sleep and acts as a natural hypnotic.

13. Persistent dry cough can be controlled by placing salt on the tongue.

14. Sodium is found in many anti-aging creams. It defends against the free radicals that accelerate the aging process. It helps to restore a healthy, youthful skin.

15. Sodium helps in maintaining the acid base balance by altering the proportions of acid-base alkali phosphates in the body, in this way controlling the reaction of the kidneys and frequency and content of urination.

16. Sodium plays an important role in removing excess carbon dioxide in the body.

17. Sodium balances osmotic pressure in the human body by fluid regulation in cells.

18. Sodium helps to maintain normal contractions of the heart. It plays an extremely important role in maintaining blood pressure.

19. Expectant mothers need to maintain an adequate level of sodium in their body. If the mother has low salt levels, it would alter unborn child’s blood volume and could cause her own blood pressure to increase by making her blood thicker.