Sugar & Salt: Good or Bad?

healthy appetite

By Shean Bedi

Sugar and Salt are good for the body…

Now, before you react violently, I am not done yet. Notice ellipsis? Good.

Sugar and salt are good for the body as long as their taken within the daily dietary limits. Salt is required for the proper functioning of the thyroid gland, water retention and growth. However, the maximum intake of salt allowed each day is 2,300 milligrams.

Meanwhile, sugar is a vital energy resource of the body. You need this to get you through the day. Natural sugar, those found in fruits, are good for you. Intake of refined sugars, those found in processed foods like corn syrup and candies, should be confined to eight teaspoons per day.
Sugar and salt only becomes bad for you when you take more than you should. Here’s what I do to avoid such occurrence.

Avoid junk foods – Chips are high on sodium. I generally don’t stock up on chips but when I crave for some, I buy the salt-free kind. When I buy French fries, I ask the attendant to put no salt and to give me a packet of salt instead.

Choose dark chocolates – Sometimes, I just need a bar of chocolate to pick me up. I choose dark chocolates because they are generally healthier than the milky ones and are not as sweet. Plus, research has shown that dark chocolates have beneficial effect on the heart.

Use brown sugar – This kind of sugar is healthier than white sugar. Your coffee may taste different with brown sugar but you will eventually get used to the taste.

Choose fresh fruits – When you need a sugar fix, eat fresh fruits rather than candied ones. Mangoes are a great source of natural sugar.

Always practice moderation in anything that you do, including consuming sugar and salt. You will save yourself from a whole lot of health problems