Too much salt may trigger autoimmune diseases Washington:
Increased dietary salt intake can induce a group of aggressive
immune cells that are involved in triggering and sustaining
autoimmune diseases, a new study has found. In autoimmune
diseases, the immune system attacks healthy tissue instead of
fighting pathogens. In recent decades scientists have observed a
steady rise in the incidence of autoimmune diseases in the
Western world. Since this increase cannot be explained solely by
genetic factors, researchers hypothesize that the sharp increase
in these diseases is linked to environmental factors. Among the
suspected culprits are changes in lifestyle and dietary habits
in developed countries, where highly processed food and fast
food are often on the daily menu. These foods tend to have
substantially higher salt content than home-cooked meals. This
study is the first to indicate that excess salt intake may be
one of the environmental factors driving the increased incidence
of autoimmune diseases. A few ye