Signs You're Eating Too Much Salt

Your brain feels foggy.
Studies have shown that those with high-sodium diets had a higher chance of cognitive decline than those with less salt in their diets. And as you age, it is important to keep track of how much salt you consume, and make changes if necessary.

You're extremely thirsty.
Foods with high amounts of sodium (think: chips, spaghetti sauce, pepperoni pizza) make you feel even more thirsty, because sodium messes with the balance of fluid in your body. If you had a day of eating more high-sodium food, like at a baseball game, try to drink a lot of water. Your body is probably craving water so it can restore the salt balance in your cells.

Your body is swelling in strange places.
Just one night of too much sodium can make you look and feel more bloated in the morning. This is called edema, the swelling of extra fluid in your body's tissues. Edema can be a symptom of of an underlying disease, but it can also be a sign of too much sodium in your diet. Be sure to read food labels, look for low-sodium options, or cook your own food to control the amount of salt.

You get kidney stones.
A diet high in sodium can hinder kidney funcition. Consuming too much salt can increase the amount of protein found in your urine - and the more protein in your urine is a major risk factor for kidney disease.

You have high blood pressure.
Consuming more than the recommended amount of sodium each day can increase blood pressure by holding more fluid in the body, making your heart pump harder.