How excessive salt consumption affects emotions: the most frequent symptoms

It is already known that the excess salt It has a major impact on health. Mainly due to the relationship to hypertension and its association with renal insufficiency. Now, moreover, shows a study by the University of Edinburgh how this mineral also affects emotional well-being.

For this study, published in the journal Cardiovascular Research, researchers fed mice a low sodium control diet and others on a high salt diet.

Next, they measured stress hormone levels in the morning and evening for up to 8 weeks for eight weeks.

The conclusion, replicated by Medical News Today, showed that the high-salt diet can double the maximal stress response in mice.

The reason is that it would increase the production of the stress hormone and influence the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which provides the body’s reaction to alert situations.

The researchers also noted that a diet with these characteristics leads to increases in glucocorticoids, natural hormones that help regulate stress response and cardiovascular, cognitive, immune and metabolic functions.

Furthermore, they have established that it can also generate anxiety or anger.

“We are what we eat and understanding how salt-rich foods affect our mental health is an important step in improving well-being. We know that eating too much salt damages the heart, blood vessels and kidneys. This study now tells us that the high salt content of our food also changes how our brains handle stress,” said Dr. Matthew Bailey, lead author of the study and professor of kidney physiology at the Center for Cardiovascular Sciences of the University of California at Edinburgh, he told Medical News Today.

Less salt in food

With these results, the intention of the research group is to create public policies that promote the reduction of salt in processed foods.

As the Medical News Today note points out, salt is used in the food industry to improve the flavor of food. Breads, cereals, meats, soups and instant noodles, among other packages, have high doses of this mineral. This adversely affects public health.

How much sodium to consume

The sodium it is an essential element that helps regulate the movement of nutrients in and out of cells. The human body requires only a small amount of sodium, which combines with chloride to form common table salt.

According to the Recommended Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the recommended intake is less than 2,300 milligrams (mg) per day. But the reliable source from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that the population of that country ingests more than 3400 mg per day.