If you feel tired, you may need more sodium in your diet, experts warn.
The “healthy” diet that’s ruining youUm sleep
James DiNicolantonio, a cardiovascular research scientist, shared a video on Instagram about why too little salt in the diet you may be influence the quality sleep.
“People who were prescribed a low-salt diet, because of the activation of the sympathetic nervous system, had worse sleep,” he explains in the clip, which has received more than 3,000 likes.
He also says that this activation of the sympathetic nervous system is a “stress response” that can affect sleep.
According to the specialist, several studies have shown that the consumption of a diet low in salt, consisting of about 2,200 milligrams of sodium per day, is enough to lead to sodium depletion.
“When the body is low in sodium, it will pull sodium, magnesium and calcium from the bone, to the detriment of one’s health,” explained DiNicolantonio.
James DiNicolantonio isn’t the only medical expert warning about low sodium and poor sleep.
A level low of sodium means even more trips to the bathroom during the night
One study explained that when sodium levels drop in the body, the adrenal glands respond by creating more adrenaline, which helps with sodium retention. Adrenaline triggers the body’s fight-or-flight response and is not conducive to a restful night’s sleep.
When someone has low sodium, they are also more likely to make more visits to the bathroom, potentially in the middle of the night.
The American Heart Association recommends that people consume about 2,300 mg of sodium per day.
Diets too high in sodium are harmful to health, experts warn. High sodium can lead to high blood pressure, heart attacks and strokes.
Read also: 10 foods that destroy sleep. What not to eat before bed, even if they are healthy
PHOTO: Shutterstock | SOURCE: NY Post
