New Delhi, November 9 (IANS). A top neurologist has said that a healthy person should not follow a low-salt diet as it can lead to increased health problems like diabetes and cholesterol. Along with this, the risk of death also remains.
“There is a common belief that salt is not good for health,” Dr. Sudhir Kumar of Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, Hyderabad, said in a post on X.
He said that many doctors recommend eating less salt to avoid the risk of high BP and heart related diseases.
According to the World Health Organization, it recommends less than 2000 mg/day of sodium per day for adults. This is equivalent to 5 grams of salt (about one teaspoon) per day.
“Low salt intake can lead to insulin resistance in healthy people, which can increase the risk of diabetes,” Kumar said.
“Low salt intake is also a factor in increasing total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL cholesterol levels,” he said.
The expert stressed that sodium is essential for the proper functioning of the brain, nerves and muscles. People with low sodium intake may experience problems such as weakness, fatigue, dizziness, coma and seizures, and in severe cases can even lead to death.
At the same time, consuming a diet high in salt can further increase the blood pressure of people with high BP.
Blood pressure levels may increase in a subgroup of people with high blood pressure, called salt-sensitive hypertension.
“About 50 percent of people with high blood pressure are salt-sensitive, and should limit their sodium intake to 2300 mg/day (5.8 grams of salt per day),” the neurologist said.
“Salt sensitivity is more common in women, the elderly, obese people and people with chronic kidney disease, and a high-salt diet may increase their risk of high BP,” Kumar said.
They recommended that healthy people with normal kidneys maintain a normal salt diet, while those on a low-salt diet should monitor for signs and symptoms of hyponatremia (sodium deficiency).
–IANS
MKS/AKJ
