Is your salt sprinkling habit putting you at higher risk of gastric cancer?

A new study unveils shocking revelations about the dangers of excessive salt consumption

Is your salt sprinkling habit putting you at risk of gastric cancer?
Is your salt sprinkling habit putting you at higher risk of gastric cancer?

Are you always sprinkling a bit more salt onto your food after it hits your table? If you do so, then beware, a new study has revealed its dangerous consequences.

In a recent study published in Gastric Cancer journal, researchers examined the eating habits of over 471,000 individuals from the U.K. Biobank.

The study found that those who regularly added salt to their food at the table faced a 41% greater risk of developing stomach cancer compared to those who rarely or never did.

During an 11-year follow-up period, researchers recorded 640 cases of cancer among the participants.

However, it's worth noting that individuals who habitually added salt to their meals were also likely to consume foods with higher sodium levels overall, which could further elevate the risk.

Stomach cancer, ranked as the fifth most common cancer globally, tends to be more prevalent in regions like East Asia, Eastern Europe, and Latin America.

Meanwhile, the National Cancer Institute warns that dietary factors play a significant role in stomach cancer risk.

While, consuming a diet low in fruits and vegetables or high in salted, smoked, or poorly preserved foods increases the likelihood of developing the disease.

Moreover, the study highlights importance of monitoring salt intake, especially since most Americans exceed the recommended daily sodium intake of 2,300 milligrams.

Excessive sodium consumption not only raises the risk of stomach cancer but also contributes to high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke, which are leading causes of death in the U.S.

Additionally, this study emphasises the need for larger investigations among diverse populations to better understand the relationship between salt consumption and stomach cancer.