Does Salt Cause Diabetes?

Does salt cause diabetes?

In this brief guide, we will answer the question “Does salt cause diabetes?” and give you tips on how to cut out salt from your diet. We will also discuss the harmful effects of eating too much salt.

Salt does not cause diabetes but consuming too much salt can be very bad for diabetics. Salt does not alter the blood glucose levels. Salt should be avoided by diabetic and people at risk of developing diabetes.

Salt can raise blood pressure and cause hypertension. Diabetics are already at a risk of developing hypertension so salt intake will only increase the risk. Additionally, diabetics are also very prone to developing heart diseases and dying from them so salt only adds to these things.

How to cut out salt from your diet?

Cut down on processed foods like chips, ready made meals, pastas, and sugary drinks.
Make your meals at home from scratch and add less salt.
Use spices other than salt to make your dish flavorful.
Make it a habit of eating less salty foods.

Is taking too much salt bad for you?

Yes, taking too much salt in your diet is bad for you. An average human only needs about 1500 milligrams of sodium per day and if you consume more than this on a regular basis, you may face some immediate and long term side effects of it.

Although sodium and chloride both are essential for the body to maintain the electrolyte balance and proper nerve function, you should take it in moderation.

Some short term effects of taking too much salt are as follows.

Taking too much salt can lead to water retention in your body. You may feel like your stomach is bloated and your hands, feet or face is puffy. You may even weigh more than before due to all the water weight.
It can also cause a rise in your blood pressure.
It can make you feel so thirsty because a lot of sodium can leave you dehydrated so you end up drinking a lot of water.
Your urine frequency may also increase because since the sodium will leave you dehydrated, you will be drinking a lot more water.

Can diabetics have rice?

Rice such as white rice has a high glycemic index (GI) which means that the carbohydrates in it are digested quickly and they can raise blood sugar levels. Diabetics need to maintain their blood sugar within safe levels which is why it is advisable that they do not have rice frequently or everyday.

They should also limit their portions of rice. It is better for them to have rice which has a higher glycemic index.

Which type of rice can diabetics have?

Diabetics can have brown rice or wild rice in moderation because they have a low glycemic index which means that the carbohydrates found in these types of rice are digested slowly. They should still limit their consumption of rice even if they are having brown rice or wild rice. Brown rice and wild rice are also packed with nutrients, fiber and vitamins.

Short grain white rice should be avoided as it has a very high glycemic index.

Does salt cause acne?

Yes, salt can cause acne but there is not a lot of research to back this up. There have been some studies but their results are not enough to give a verdict that is 100% confirmed.

As of now, there are two probable causes. The first one is that high salt intake might trigger inflammation and cause acne since acne is an inflammatory disease.

The second one is that taking too much salt can leave you dehydrated. Dehydration can lead to dry skin and when this happens, the dead skin cells block your pores. And whenever there’s blockage, bacteria can invade.

Although acne is usually caused by bacteria, hormones etc, diet and lifestyle also play a role when it comes to skin care.

Find out more about the harmful effects of taking too much salt here.

Other FAQs about Salt that you may be interested in.

Does salt conduct electricity?

Does salt dissolve in alcohol?

Does salt dissolve in oil?

Conclusion

In this brief guide, we answered the question “Does salt cause diabetes?” and gave you tips on how to cut out salt from your diet. We also discussed the harmful effects of eating too much salt.