Some people believe that a salt-free diet is healthier, but this is actually a misconception for healthy individuals. Salt only has adverse effects on the body when conditions such as edema, hypertension, heart failure, or kidney failure occur.
According to a report in Mexico's "El Universal," salt poses a threat to the human body in two main ways. First, the sodium in salt causes the body to retain water, leading to an increase in the body's fluid content. This manifests as hypervolemia in the blood and edema in the tissues. Second, it raises the systolic blood pressure in the arteries and peripheral blood vessels.
However, for people with normal or low blood pressure and no other health conditions, salt is essential in their diet, especially for those with hypotension.
Furthermore, individuals who engage in physical labor or sweat frequently should consume more salt in their diet to replenish the salt lost through perspiration.
It is worth noting that the sodium content of various foods varies. For example, vegetables and fruits have lower sodium content than meats and milk. Processed foods such as ready-to-eat meals, seafood, and canned goods require salting during processing and therefore contain more sodium.