The salt controversy

El_Dangeroso

Really great article from Gary Taubes on whether reducing salt intake has any measurable benefit to health:

http://www.nasw.org/awards/1999/99Taubesarticle1.htm

Pembily

That's good to know that it's not definately bad for you, I love salt and try not eat too much, but it's good to know there is no compelling evidence it's bad!!!:D

EileenG

Certainly I know that for pregnant women, there is NO upper limit on salt, which doesn't stop everyone and his aunt recommending that they cut salt for all sorts of reasons.

I've always maintained that the salt guidelines were aimed at a possibly hyper-tensive couch potato. If you are healthy and active, and particularly if you exercise hard (like having to scrape salt crystals off your face at the end), they are a joke.

El_Dangeroso

EileenG wrote: »

Certainly I know that for pregnant women, there is NO upper limit on salt, which doesn't stop everyone and his aunt recommending that they cut salt for all sorts of reasons.

I've always maintained that the salt guidelines were aimed at a possibly hyper-tensive couch potato. If you are healthy and active, and particularly if you exercise hard (like having to scrape salt crystals off your face at the end), they are a joke.

I think that from article drops small drops in blood pressure were seen in hypertensive individuals from complete salt elimination but some studies showed no difference at all.

But all studies pretty much showed no benefit to normotensive individuals.

lizzyvera

That's interesting.

I don't like salt very much and never add it to food. I heard that you get enough from food naturally, but I regularly wake up with HORRIBLE cramps in my legs and feet, and eating some salted tomatoes gets rid of it. It suggests to me that some added salt is beneficial.

El_Dangeroso

lizzyvera wrote: »

That's interesting.

I don't like salt very much and never add it to food. I heard that you get enough from food naturally, but I regularly wake up with HORRIBLE cramps in my legs and feet, and eating some salted tomatoes gets rid of it. It suggests to me that some added salt is beneficial.

Also those leg cramps are caused by insufficient potassium too. I eat sunflower seeds to stop this happening, otherwise I wake up with the most unbelievably painful charlie-horses in my sleep.