You might have read that salty food is bad for us, and that’s true. But there’s also more to it than that. Salt is actually made up of two minerals, sodium and chloride, and they can be healthy for us. They help to keep the body hydrated, support nerve and muscle function, and help with digestion, too. However, when we consume too much sodium, in ultra-processed foods, for example, it can be detrimental to our health.
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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), on average, Americans consume more than 3,400 milligrams of sodium per day, which is considerably more than the federal recommendation of less than 2,300 milligrams. In high amounts, sodium can increase blood pressure and the risk of heart disease and stroke—two of the leading causes of death in the US.
“This happens because sodium leads to fluid retention,…