Salty foods, such as chips, pizza and dips, can be tasty. But what happens if you eat too much of them? Researchers have found that overweight or obese teens who eat too much salty food may show signs of faster cell aging.
Previous research has actually shown that the ends of chromosomes, known as telomeres, naturally shorten with age. Yet this shortening is accelerated by smoking, lack of physical activity, and high body fat. Now, it looks like salty foods may also contribute to this shortening.
"Lowering sodium intake, especially if you are overweight or obese, may slow down the cellular aging process that plays an important role in the development of heart disease," said Haidong Zhu, one of the researchers, in a news release.
After examining 766 teens between the ages of 14 and 18, the scientists found that in overweight and obese teens, telomeres were significantly shorter if the teens ate more salt. In normal weight teens, though, the telomeres weren't significantly shorter, despite them eating salty foods.
This isn't wholly surprising. Obesity is associated with high levels of inflammation, which can quicken telomere shortening. Obesity is also associated with sensitivity to salt, which may explain why salty foods had such a greater effect on overweight teens.
"Lowering sodium intake may be an easier first step than losing weight for overweight young people who want to lower their risk of heart disease," said Zhu in a news release. "The majority of sodium in the diet comes from processed foods, so parents can help by cooking fresh meals more often and by offering fresh fruit rather than potato chips for a snack."
The findings reveal how important it is to monitor salt intake. Like any foods, salty ones should be eaten in moderation. But if your teen is overweight or obese, it may be worth cutting down on the amount of chips that you give them for a snack.
The findings were presented at the American Heart Association's Epidemiology & Prevention/Nutrition, Physical Activity & Metabolism Scientific Sessions 2014.
