High-salt food stresses the body, research shows

A new study shows that a diet high in salt may contribute to increased stress levels. In studies of mice, scientists found that a high-salt diet increased levels of stress hormones by 75 percent.

Experts hope the findings will spur a review of public health policy on salt consumption, with a goal for manufacturers to reduce the amount of salt in processed foods.

The recommended salt intake for adults is less than six grams per day, but most people regularly eat about nine grams.

This can contribute to higher blood pressure, which increases the risks of heart attack, stroke, and vascular dementia.

While its effects on the heart and circulatory system have been well established, little was known about its effect on the behavior of a person with high salt.

To examine this, experts from the University of Edinburgh used rats that normally eat a low-salt diet and fed them high-salt foods to reflect the typical intake of humans.

In addition to increased resting hormone levels, they found that the rats’ hormone response to environmental stress was twice that of rats that administered a normal one.

Salt intake increased the activity of genes in the brain that produce proteins that control how the body responds to stress.

Experts say more research is needed to understand whether high salt intake leads to other behavioral changes, such as anxiety and aggression.

The study was published in Cardiovascular Research. Funded by the British Heart Foundation and Kidney Research UK.

Matthew Bailey, Professor of Renal Physiology at the University of Edinburgh’s Center for Cardiovascular Sciences, said: “We are what we eat, and understanding how high-salt foods alter our mental health is an important step towards improving well-being. We know that eating too much is very important.” salt damages our heart, blood vessels and kidneys. This study now tells us that the high salt in food also changes the way our brains deal with stress.”

Source: