Soy sauce: Here's why you should be careful of the amount you consume on a daily basis

Soy sauce is a popularcondimentas well as cooking ingredient. It has been a staple in many Asian cuisines for centuries. The delicious umami flavour imparted by soy sauce has made it very popular, so much so that today it is found in many kitchen globally.

Consumers use it not just to dip their sushi, but also to prepare a variety of marinates, to make sauces and even as seasoning in different dishes. But just as there could be health risks associated with eating sushi, or risks related with eating leftover rice, soy sauce too could affect your health negatively if improperly consumed.

As reported by IFL Science, overconsumption of soy sauce can have serious health risks that could even lead to death. The reason for this is that soy sauce is among the foods in your kitchen with way more salt than is required.

Here is all you should know about safely consuming soy sauce.

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Excess soy sauce consumption is dangerous

Soy sauce is derived from fermented soybeans and wheat. As per IFL Science's report, soy sauce is so potently salty that it is not unheard of for people to overdose, and sometimes, even use it as a method of suicide. Just one tablespoon of soy sauce contains an average person's recommended daily intake of salt.

Too much salt in the body is very dangerous. It can lead to a condition called hypernatremia, where in a bid to equalise salt levels in the body, water moves out of the body's tissues, including brain tissues. This can lead organs to shrink and bleed, as well as cause seizures and lead to fatal fluid buildups in places like the lungs.

The report also cites the case of one 19-year-old who drank almost a litre of soy sauce and ended up comatose. Luckily, he received medical attention quickly, and the doctors could get his sodium levels down before it was too late.

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Soy sauce contains a ton of salt

As per Dr. San Westreich in his Medium blog, there has been at least 1 documented case of someone dying from overconsumption of soy sauce. In 2011, a woman in Japan died from pulmonary edema (buildup of fluid in the lungs) caused by overconsumption of soy sauce. The sodium level in her body was so high that there was no way to save her.

As per the report, the recommended maximum daily intake of salt is about 2,300 milligrams per day for an average adult. That’s about 1 teaspoon of salt. In comparison, just one cup of soy sauce could contain 14 grams of salt!

So doctors strongly advice you to be mindful of your daily salt intake, and that includes how much soy sauce you are consuming.

Read more: Are you eating too much salt? Here's how your body lets you know

Sources used:

IFL Science: 'Can You Really Die From Too Much Soy Sauce? Yes, And It's Surprisingly Easy To Do'

Medium: 'Can You Overdose on Soy Sauce?'