Too much salt causes high blood pressure, one of the risk factors for any cardiovascular disease such as stroke. That’s why experts recommend only using 6 grams or about one teaspoon of salt a day. While salt is a vital element the body has to have too much salt can overwhelm the kidneys. The salt that doesn’t go through the kidneys causes fluid retention that usually build around the heart.

While warnings against too much salt intake have been announced in the medical community, a vast majority remain unmoved by their love for salt. No wonder every house has a salt shaker. We just need that flavour for our popcorn or beans. We can’t seem to live without it.  Also, since salt is a preservative, most of the foods are already filled with salt. Salt is in all junkies – any kind of processed food that is. Canned vegetables, canned soups, noodles, snack foods, luncheon meats and frozen foods are just some of them.

Salt is not only in the food we eat. Our condiments are also packed with salt. Catsup, for instance, is a source of salt. A tablespoon of catsup is about 190 milligrams. Well, that’s not bad at all. Usually, however, we use three to four tablespoons or more of catsup for a roasted beef or the regular hamburger and fries! The same goes with another popular condiment – soy sauce. A teaspoon of soy sauce contains about 1,150 milligrams of salt. Soy sauce lovers would not only use a teaspoon!

If you add up the salt from the food you eat plus the condiment, it maybe way beyond normal. So, when you have a hint of excessive salt intake you better begin cutting back on it or suffer the consequences later.

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