A study conducted by China’s Xinjiang Medical University has revealed that individuals who frequently consume salt are by 40% more likely to develop anxiety and depression.
In contrast, those who occasionally add salt to their food have a lower risk—between 5% to 8%.
The study, which examined data from more than half a million British adults, also found that excessive salt intake could accelerate biological aging, potentially leading to mental health issues.
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One theory proposed by the researchers is that high salt consumption may disrupt mood-related hormones such as serotonin and dopamine, contributing to emotional instability.
The research institute described their work as “the first large-scale prospective cohort study with the longest follow-up duration to highlight the relationship between the frequency of adding salt to foods and the onset of depression and anxiety.”
According to data published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, out of 439,412 Britons surveyed, 9,516 individuals were diagnosed with depression and 11,796 with anxiety.
