Excess salt intake may cause bloating: Study

Salt, as an ingredient is magical. It gives life to the dish, but, you will be surprised to know that excess consumption of this white magic may cause gastrointestinal bloating. Revealed through a recent study, it has been found that sodium is a prevalent factor in bloating. Read to know more about the findings and the simple solution that can help you keep at ease.

Published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology the study was conducted to examine sodium as a cause of bloating in the context of low and high-fibre diets. According to researchers, bloating is one of the leading gastrointestinal complaints and it largely depends on the diet. The study has duly mentioned that bloating is a condition characterised by the build-up of excess gas in the gut. The production of gas can be attributed to gas-producing gut bacteria breaking down fibre.

The team analyzed data from the DASH-Sodium trial, conducted at four clinical centres. It tested the DASH diet, a high-fibre diet, which is relatively low in fat and high in fruits, nuts, and vegetables, against a low-fibre control diet.

The main aim of the study was to check the effect of dietary sodium and other factors on blood pressure.

The study revealed that sodium was a prevalent factor in bloating. It was also found that the high-sodium diets collectively increase the risk of bloating by about 27 per cent as compared to the low-sodium versions.

The researchers mentioned that reducing sodium is an effective way to reduce bloating. Also, it is suggested to indulge in high-fibre die to keep the gut at ease.