Daily salt consumption of a healthy individual should be below 5 grams. This consumption has been determined as 9-12 grams in the world. It has been determined that this consumption is up to 18 grams in Turkey. 5g. It is equivalent to approximately 1 teaspoon. Salt is not only added by us, it is abundant in ready-made foods, broths, biscuits, soft drinks and soda. The mineral referred to as salt is sodium. Sodium is a mineral that is very necessary for our body and is important in acid-base balance, blood pressure, and indirectly in the nervous and muscular system. However, high level use impairs cardiovascular health by causing hypertension, that is, "high blood pressure". In addition, kidney, brain, eye and bone health deteriorates.
However, on the contrary, some of our patients are very meticulous in this regard and do not use any salt, and they also lose salt through the diuretics in the blood pressure medications they use. This situation is especially common in the age group of 70 years and above. There are many patients who come to the emergency department with loss of consciousness and are diagnosed with low sodium. In addition, low sodium is also seen in conditions such as various hormonal reasons, brain tumor and kidney diseases.
Another situation is the use of artificial salt. These preparations contain potassium instead of sodium. These preparations, which are thought to be harmless but used in high doses, can cause serious conditions such as cardiac arrhythmia, sudden cardiac arrest, muscle spasms and cramps, and adrenal gland disorders by increasing potassium.
Himalayan and rock salts are as it is thought. It is no more beneficial than table salt. Especially in Himalayan salts, there are other minerals besides sodium chloride, and since some of them have a radioactive effect, these salts can be carcinogenic. In addition, since the amount of iodine in these salts is insufficient, the risk of thyroid cancer increases.
Should iodized or non-iodized salt be used? Due to the World Health Organization's warning that non-iodized salt increases the risk of thyroid cancer, non-iodized salt was not available in our country for a while. However, since the risk of goiter, that is, thyroid gland enlargement, increases in iodine excess, non-iodized salt is preferred in patients with goiter and overactive thyroid gland. may wish.
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