The doctor named the main risks of excess salt and sugar in the diet

Salt and sugar, when consumed excessively, pose a threat to health, but the degree of their danger varies significantly. On May 5, Natalia Tananakina, an endocrinologist at JSC "Medicine" (Academician Roitberg Clinic), PhD, told Izvestia about what is actually more harmful to the body.

According to her, salt plays an important physiological role — it supports the water-electrolyte balance, provides nerve impulses and muscle function. However, exceeding the WHO recommended norm of 5 grams per day leads to fluid retention, increased blood pressure and increased stress on the cardiovascular system. A particular danger is the "hidden" salt found in sausages, cheeses, sauces, and prepared foods.

Sugar, unlike salt, is not a vital substance. It is a pure carbohydrate that causes spikes in blood glucose levels. Regular excess of the daily norm of 25 g provokes the development of insulin resistance, obesity and type 2 diabetes. However, the main danger lies in the hidden sugars present even in unsweetened foods.

Sweetness is not a joy: which foods contain hidden sugar

Experts told how energy drinks, yoghurts, smoothies and canned food undermine health.

Comparing the effects on the cardiovascular system, the expert notes that salt has a more direct negative effect, contributing to the development of hypertension. Sugar also acts indirectly — through provoking systemic inflammation and disruption of lipid metabolism, which in the long term also leads to heart and vascular diseases.

"As for metabolic disorders, sugar is certainly more dangerous here. It not only causes obesity, but also promotes fatty degeneration of the liver, disrupts the pancreas and hormonal balance. Salt does not cause such catastrophic consequences for metabolism," the endocrinologist noted.

Tananakina explained: the special danger of sugar lies in its ability to cause addiction. The consumption of sweets stimulates the release of dopamine, the "pleasure hormone", creating an effect similar to narcotic. This leads to the formation of pathological cravings for sweets, especially in children. Salt does not have such an addictive potential.
To minimize the risks, the doctor recommends controlling the consumption of ready-made products with a high salt content and giving preference to its natural types. As for sugar, special attention should be paid to studying the composition of foods, limiting sugary drinks, and perceiving sweets as a rare treat rather than an everyday habit.

Although both products require reasonable restriction, sugar poses a great threat to long-term health. Its systemic effects on the body, its ability to cause dependence and provoke serious metabolic disorders make it more dangerous than salt, as the specialist clarified. However, this does not mean that you can consume salt uncontrollably — both products require a conscious approach to nutrition.

Earlier, on April 11, Artur Bogatyrev, a urologist and andrologist at the SM Clinic Center for Reproductive Health, told Izvestia that even seemingly healthy foods can disrupt kidney function if consumed excessively. He noted that in the presence of renal pathologies, products with a high content of oxalates should be excluded.