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A new study suggests that a diet high in salt may contribute to increased stress levels.
According to research published in the journal Cardiovascular Research, scientists found in rat studies that a high-salt diet increased levels of stress hormones by 75%. "We are what we eat, and understanding how high-salt foods change our mental health is one thing," said Matthew Bailey, professor of renal physiology at the University of Edinburgh's Center for Cardiovascular Science. important step to improve happiness.
"We know that eating too much salt is bad for the heart, blood vessels and kidneys. This study now tells us that high salt intake in the diet also changes the way the brain handles stress," he added. .
According to research, the recommended daily salt intake for adults is less than six grams, but most people eat about nine grams.
This can lead to higher blood pressure, increasing the risk of heart attack, stroke, and vascular dementia.
The study adds that, despite the well-documented effects on the heart and circulatory system, little is known about how a high-salt diet affects a person's behavior.
To study this, experts at the University of Edinburgh used mice that normally eat a low-salt diet and high-salt foods to resemble a typical human diet.
The researchers found that not only did resting stress hormone levels increase, but the rats' hormone responses to environmental stress were also twice as high as those of mice on a normal diet, base on the research.
Experts say more research is underway to determine if high salt intake leads to anxiety and aggression.