The Role of Sugar And Salt In A Healthy Diet

Liking something sweet is very easy and natural to so many people. A lot of folks find it very convenient to consume sugary foods and snacks daily and sometimes make it a part of their standard food consumption. This invariably can lead to weight gain and health risks.

Another fact of note is that majority of sugary foods and snacks contain refined sugars which causes a lot of complications in diet. Refined sugars have negative health effects including hypoglycemia, arthritis, diabetes, headaches, suppression of the immune system, osteoporosis, and depression. It is also stored as fat within the body and bring about increase in weight for anyone that consume it.

Avoid consuming sugary foods, drinks and snacks that contain refined sugars. The artificial sweeteners, used in the beverages, have been shown to interfere with the body’s natural ability to function properly; this also should be avoided.

Instead of consuming sweetened beverages, sugary foods and snacks; fruit juices are best replacement, or water with a squeeze of lemon added as the sweetener. The natural sweetness of the fruits will definitely

satisfy the sweet cravings you have and weight loss will still be achieve while better health is maintained. This is because the natural sugar in the fruits will provide the right kind of energy as well as essential fibers and nutrients.

Salt or sodium is another bad ingredient many people have in their diets. It is highly being overuse on daily basis. Some do not realize that they consume over 2,300mg per day of the highly dangerous additive. Most of the processed packaged foods, fast foods, and restaurant foods consumed daily contain added sodium. Even the canned soups and frozen meals have added sodium.

Sodium leads to weight gain, heart disease, and health issues related to the added chemical in the body and bloodstream. Sodium makes people retain water leading to the bloating of the body. It also tends to make people feel thirsty constantly, so when even consuming fluids, often times their thirst is not quenched.

Salt is not bad when used in moderation. There are high quality sea salts that have up to 90 minerals that are healthy for the body. Use sea salt that is either reddish or brownish in color or even the non-colored salt for the best type of salt to add to the diet. These types of salts do not have additives, chemicals, and are not bleached.

Your body does require a certain amount of sodium and natural sweeteners in order to function properly. You should reduce the extra amounts you consume, to create a healthier life style and body. It is also important for you to check with your doctor, prior to making major changes to your diet, in order to determine if it could affect your overall health adversely.