4 Ways Salt Can Affect Weight Loss
During the weight loss process it can be common to go through a plateau period where the pounds are just not coming off. While it can be discouraging, this is a good time to take a second look at your eating habits, because a seemingly innocent and non-fattening ingredient may be responsible salt. Salt has no calories but many researchers say it might be the reason why people gain weight. That is not to say that salt is bad for the body, it's just that we tend to consume too much of it. The fact is salt is important for us to live, but too much of it can also make it difficult to keep the weight off.
1. Salt negatively impacts insulin sensitivity
Insulin is an enzyme that your body produces to take the sugar from your blood to your muscles and organs so they can be used as energy. When insulin is released, it signals your body to stop burning fat and start storing the fat because there are only so many sugars that can provide the cells with energy. Under normal conditions, the body releases only a little insulin so only a few fats are stored. But not when you have insulin insensitivity. When you have insulin resistance, your body can't properly convert food to energy. The extra energy is then stored into fat.
2. Too much salt makes you sluggish
Excessive salt consumption can cause electrolyte imbalance, which can make you drowsy, sluggish, or tired. Fatigue is a barrier to physical activity and exercise that helps you lose weight. If the imbalance is already too severe, it can lead to serious health issues, even death.
3. Salt can make you overeat
In a Deakin University study conducted in 2016, researchers found proof that adding salt to fatty foods make it more delicious. People tend to eat more fatty foods more if it has high amount of salt, leading to weight gain and possible increase in cholesterol levels. The combination of fat and salt is so appetizing that almost all fast food chains use it to draw in customers.
4. Salty foods makes you crave sweets
Not only does salt make fatty foods more palatable, once you are done eating salty and fatty foods you usually go for sweets. This is because your brain craves variety, according to Dietician Susan M. Kleiner, R.D., Ph.D. Salt can contribute to weight gain and serious health conditions such as heart disease and hypertension. Moderation is key to keeping your salt intake within the limits suggested by doctors and health professionals. The American Heart Association recommends an ideal limit of 1,500 mg of salt per day. If you're struggling with weight management and need professional guidance, visit ThinWorks, a weight loss center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, to get the support you need for long-term success.
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