Too much of too much is bad. But did you know that excessive salt consumption can cause stomach cancer?
What is food without salt? It is the key ingredient in all types of foods. Food tastes great without these little white crystals. But how much salt is too much salt? Excess of anything is bad. It’s important to keep sodium levels in check to manage blood pressure, electrolyte levels, and more. Did you know that salt can cause stomach cancer? Stomach cancer is the fifth most common cancer in India and is usually detected at a late stage. This leads to poor treatment outcomes for these patients. It is better to prevent the development of stomach cancer.
Causes of stomach cancer
Normally, people consume 4-6 grams of salt per day, said Dr Samir Gupta, HOD, Oncosurgery, DPU Super Specialty Hospital, Pimpri, Pune, speaking to India.com. This salt comes from food. A large analysis of about 37,000 people around the world showed that increased salt consumption leads to an increased risk of stomach cancer. This increased the risk of stomach cancer by one and a half to two times compared to people with lower or normal salt intake. This has been confirmed by animal studies in rats.
Foods that contain excess salt are salted fish, meat and salted vegetables. Pickles can be very salty and excessive consumption can be harmful. Another very salty food is soy sauce, which is commonly used in oriental cuisine. In association with salt, these foods are also high in chili peppers, which is also a risk factor. Food at high temperatures is another risk factor.
Salt and stomach cancer
Salt damages the stomach lining. This makes it more prone to damage from stomach acid. This can change the stomach lining to a type called intestinal type. This type of coating is more likely to develop cancer. Helicobacter pylori, a stomach bacteria that thrives in a saline environment. These bacteria are well known as a risk factor for stomach cancer.
This can be done by avoiding excessive salt consumption. Extra salt should not be added to cooked foods. Salty foods such as salted meats and pickles should be avoided.
In fact, eating green leafy fruits and vegetables has been found to protect against stomach cancer.
