ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): Adding extra salt to your meals might do more than hurt your heart—it could affect your mood, too, according to a new study.
The study indicates that frequently reaching for the salt shaker is linked to a significantly higher risk of depression.
The finding adds a mental health dimension to long-standing warnings about high salt consumption.
Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital scientists analysed the dietary habits of more than 15,000 adults to explore a possible connection between salt consumption and mental health.
It was found that individuals who consumed the highest amounts of salt had a 26% higher risk of developing depression compared to those who used it sparingly.
The research published in the journal Nutritional Neuroscience reported a significant positive association between frequent salting at the dinner table and depression risk.
How salt may affect mental health
While the experts remained short of pinpointing the exact biological mechanism, they proposed several possible explanations.
The study says that excessive salt intake may overstimulate the biological system responsible for regulating the body’s stress response. This overstimulation could lead to an overproduction of stress hormones.
The scientists were of the view that excessive salt intake may increase inflammation in the body. Inflammation, in turn, can impact areas of the brain that control emotional balance and mood regulation.
Focus on table salt, not cooking salt
Importantly, the study specifically examined how often participants added salt to their food at the table.
Volunteers were asked to choose from options ranging from “rarely” to “very often” when describing their salting habits. The data did not include salt used during cooking, focusing solely on discretionary salt added before eating.
Researchers emphasised that frequent table salt use showed a measurable link with depression risk in the general population.
For over two decades, health experts have advised reducing salt intake to lower deaths from heart disease and related conditions.
This new research suggests that the impact of high sodium consumption may extend beyond cardiovascular health and into mental well-being.
The researchers concluded that reducing salt at the table could be an effective strategy to lower the risk of depression among adults.
