The Salt Debate

Category: Conditions of the Circulatory System , Diet and Nutrition

Current dietary recommendations for salt intake are being vigorously debated by the medical community. Salt aficionados also debate whether specific types of salt may have certain health benefits. Experts are questioning the role of salt in blood pressure regulation, as new research suggests that other factors in blood pressure control may be more important. Some experts believe that restrictions on salt intake have been overemphasized. However, other experts argue that the current American Heart Association (AHA) recommendation of six grams of salt a day should be continued. Now research reports that current salt intake recommendations are based on outdated old studies, not on modern nutritional research.

The study, published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, examined the latest data concerning dietary salt, including the blood pressure effects of salt in adults with normal blood pressure and the benefits and risks of salt restriction. The study author agrees that patients with heart, liver, kidney disease should reduce their salt intake. However, new studies suggest that reducing salt consumption may not lower the risk of heart disease nor promote the health of the public. Recent research shows that high blood pressure is effectively regulated by the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet, which recommends increasing the intake of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy products in the diet. In addition, DASH studies suggest that increasing potassium intake, rather than decreasing salt, may help control blood pressure.

"Encouraging increased consumption of low-fat dairy products and fruit and vegetables holds far greater potential for improving society's cardiovascular risk profile through improved blood pressure control than does focusing on altering the intake of any single nutrient," the study author writes. "Of equal or perhaps greater importance is the fact that such a strategy is consistent with other aspects of national nutrition policy for reducing the risk of osteoporosis and cancer."

Some salt experts also believe that natural salt crystals may have health benefits. They contend that processed table and cooking salts contain harmful preservatives and that vital trace minerals were removed during refining. Sea salts may also include toxic poisons such as mercury and dioxin when refined from polluted oceans. Natural crystal salts contain no environmental pollutants and include trace minerals and elements such as potassium, calcium and magnesium that may help the body achieve a state of balance conducive to optimum function.

REFERENCES:
1. McCarron DA. The dietary guideline for sodium: should we shake it up? Yes! Am J Clin Nutr 2000 May;71(5):1013-9.

2. The Hidden Poison Lurking on Your Kitchen Table. Mercola.com:
http://www.mercola.com/forms/salt.htm

Posted by Elaine Gavalas on November 13, 2013 10:00 AM