Researchers are now warning that too much salt can increase the risk of getting type 2 diabetes. We already know that consuming too much salt may lead to other diseases, including heart problems and high blood pressure.
In a recent British study, 400 000 participants were monitored over a twelve year period. 13,000 developed diabetes. For those who ate more salt, the risk of getting diabetes was up to 40% higher.
Type 2 diabetes is an illness, in which the body does not make enough insulin, a hormone that controls the amount of sugar in your body. There are many risk factors that lead to diabetes : age, obesity, lack of exercise, too much sugar and cardiovascular diseases. Around the world, about 500 million people suffer from type 2 diabetes.
In addition, researchers point out, people whose salt intake is high tend to eat large portions of food,thus becoming overweight and having a higher BMI.
Doctors suggest using alternatives to salt – for example mint, rosemary, oregano or lemon juice.
Image: Smart Servier, CC BY-SA 3.0,
via Wikimedia Commons
