7 Signs Your Child Is Eating Too Much Salt

Salt is important for the overall functioning of the body; from transmitting nerve impulses, contracting and relaxing muscle fibers, and maintaining electrolytes. However, overconsumption of salt creates long-lasting health issues like hypertension, heart disease, or heat stroke.

Intake of salt increases through packed and processed foods, table salt, or adding extra salt. Parents should ensure that their child’s salt is not being over-consumed.

Here are Signs Your Child is Eating Too Much Salt

• Excess Urination – Frequent urination is a common sign of excessive salt intake. Waking up in the middle of the night for urination frequently, dark yellow color urine with a strong smell are also signs that the intake of salt is too much.
• Excessive Thirst – Salt tends to hold water, and intake of more sodium requires more water intake. When your child feels thirsty frequently without any exercise or hot weather, analyze whether salt intake is high. Take into account a whole day diet and check whether table salt consumption is more or packed and processed foods or sodium-containing drinks.
• Hypertension – Hypertension is often seen in children, however, it is silent. Though there are no such signs or symptoms noticed in children, increased blood pressure leads to arterial blood vessels increase in thickness, predisposing the child to cardiovascular disease.
• Craving for Salty Foods – Salt makes food taste better, however, when your child completely avoids blanc food or keeps using table salt a lo,t or always craves packaged salty foods. It is a sign that the child is eating too much salt. The best way to make children avoid packaged and the processed fare is to give them healthier home-cooked options like popcorn veggies with different dips with controlled use of sodium.
• Edema and Swelling – Consuming too much salt leads to swelling in different parts of the body, fingers, and around the ankles, feeling bloated. This swelling is caused by excessive fluids retained in the body due to a high intake of salt. A simple solution to it is cutting down salt consumption.
• Mild Headaches – Consumption of too much salt also lead to dehydration. Due to this child may suffer from mild headaches. When a child is complaining about headaches, check whether water intake is sufficient.
• Weight Gain – Salt leads to a gain in weight due to water retention. When you observe that your child is gaining weight despite not consuming sweets, fatty foods, and other junk foods; there is the possibility that the consumption of salt is too high. Monitoring sodium intake becomes necessary, to reduce weight.

Over To You
Intake of salt in appropriate quantity is very essential and hence parents need to constantly monitor that child does not indulge in too much salt intake.