Could a diet high in salt make you feel more stressed? Research on mice found a high-salt diet increased stress hormone levels by 75 per cent. Further studies are now underway to understand if high salt intake can negatively impact other aspects of our emotional wellbeing, including anxiety and aggression. “We know that eating too much salt damages our heart, blood vessels and kidneys,” says Matthew Bailey, Professor of Renal Physiology at Edinburgh University. “This study tells us that high levels of salt in our food change the way our brain handles stress, too.” So, add salt wisely and limit highly processed foods.