Salt comprises of two important elements — sodium and chloride. It is an essential mineral that actively contributes to the development of your baby, and is thus, an important element in your pregnancy diet.
The need for sodium
If there’s less sodium in your body, your muscles, nerves,and organs won’t function properly. During pregnancy, the body altersits fluid volumes to accommodate the changes occurring in your body. Sodium helps in keeping everything balanced.
How much is enough?
The ideal intake of salt falls to a maximum of 6g/day. A staggering amount is hidden in foods not prepared at home leading to a disruption in daily intake. Look out for crisps, pasta sauces, soup, sandwiches,bacon, and other ready-to-eat or processed foods. Limiting their consumption will help create a check and balances the system so that you don’t exceed your salt intake. Alternatively, you can choose using herbs or black pepper to add flavour to home-cooked meals.
Reading labels
Healthier sources comprise of seaweeds, eggs, dairy products in liquid form, fish, fruits, grains,and unsalted nuts. During food purchases, ensure to responsibly read the labels. In cases where only the sodium content is mentioned, multiply the value by a factor of 2.5 to know how much salt the product contains.
Benefits of iodised salt
It promotes healthy development and growth of cognitive function which is normally associated with learning and problem-solving. Iodine is also used by the thyroid gland for the synthesis of its hormones which play a critical role in your baby’s effective brain and nervous system development. Deficiency can lead to stillbirth, miscarriage or abnormal brain development leading to intellectual disabilities.
Side effects of excessive salt
Although it has numerous positives when consumed in moderation, going over the limit can prove to be harmful. The most prominent side effects include high blood pressure and water retention. Excessive swelling of face, ankles, legs or feet is also observed. Since there’s a high amount of salt in the system, the kidneys process a lot of fluid. Through urination, there may be a loss of calcium from the body.
In conclusion, salt is vital during pregnancy, albeit consumed in moderation. Plus, a close watch is also to be kept over daily intake along with monitoring hormonal and blood pressure variations in the system.
