Excessive salt consumption not only causes high blood pressure, but it can also lead to premature aging of blood vessels and memory impairment.
According to a recent study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, high salt intake activates the body’s immune system in such a way that blood vessels start aging rapidly and lose their elasticity.
During the study, it was revealed that with the consumption of excess salt, the immune system releases a specific compound “IL-16” that prematurely ages the cells of the arteries. When these cells age, they lose the ability to produce nitric oxide gas, which is necessary to keep the arteries dilated.
Experiments on mice showed that consuming a high-salt diet for just four weeks significantly impaired the function of their small arteries and increased swelling, damaging tissues.
On the other hand, another study by Edith Cowan University in Australia has revealed that excessive salt consumption affects human memory, especially memories related to personal experiences and past events.
This study, conducted on 1,208 people, also revealed that the risk of memory decline due to salt consumption is more significant in men than in women. Experts say that instead of causing direct damage, salt diverts the body’s defense system in the wrong direction, which is harmful to health.
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