Salt is not the enemy some would like you to believe it is.

wildon883r
wildon883r Posts: 429 Member
edited September 29 in Food and Nutrition
Here is an interesting article that's scientifically backed. I'll leave it at that.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kristin-wartman/change-in-season-why-salt_b_868808.html

Replies

  • missvics
    missvics Posts: 112
    bump
  • drogheda1
    drogheda1 Posts: 57
    Exactly! People have been eating salt for years!!
  • Edestiny7
    Edestiny7 Posts: 730 Member
    Unless you have kidney stones like I do.
  • lloydrt
    lloydrt Posts: 1,121 Member
    yes and the Egyptians used it to embalm their dead........think about it, 2000 years later and theyre still around

    Ill pass, I had a Dr tell me how bad salt is, and Ill take his advice............but good luck to anyone who does want to use it......
  • sharoniballoni
    sharoniballoni Posts: 163 Member
    The issue isn't salt alone. It's the amount of salt people eat these days. Salt is good and essential, but nature didn't intend for the amount of sodium in packaged goods we have today to help preserve them. It's just too much and I notice it when I eat too much. My tummy gets all bloaty.
  • brattyworm
    brattyworm Posts: 2,137 Member
    My doc actually told me I needed to increase my sodium levels. When he did the annual blood work, mine were too low, which has a negative effect as well. Without it the body can't retain the water levels it needs to function and dehydration can occur. So its just like everything else, there's a happy medium.
  • cruiseking
    cruiseking Posts: 338 Member
    I just scanned the article, but have I have two, true life stories to share. I have had two older (70's) clients who had so regimented their salt intake they ended up in the hospital. They both succumbed to the heat while walking. Both of their Doctors told them that over regulating their salt intake was a bad idea. These incedences happened over a ten year period. I believe sweating through exercise, and drinking at least 8 glasses of water a day, should keep most healthy people in an acceptable balance. As everything else in this life; moderation seems to be the key element.
  • kmeekhof
    kmeekhof Posts: 456 Member
    Sodium is necessary to an extent, but not in the levels most people consume it. People may have been eating salt for years, but not in processed and packaged foods like there is today.
  • kelika71
    kelika71 Posts: 778 Member
    yes and the Egyptians used it to embalm their dead........think about it, 2000 years later and theyre still around

    Ill pass, I had a Dr tell me how bad salt is, and Ill take his advice............but good luck to anyone who does want to use it......

    This!!

    I have my "cheat" days and when I do, Good God, the bloating from salt-laden crap is atrocious! I can burn off calories and carbs...but, ya can't do that with sodium. It's a waiting game to flush it out. Depending how bad food is laced with it, my "water gain" can be anywhere from 5-15 lbs!! That's just from sodium!

    Not bad?? Pffffffffft!! I know when I lay down to sleep after a heavy sodium day, I feel miserable. I'll control my sodium, thanks! :)
  • HotMamaByVday
    HotMamaByVday Posts: 343 Member
    Well, this is just like everything else. Moderation is the key. I like salt. I like fat. I like sugar. I like carbs. I like protein. I like alcohol. They all have a place in my life and I will not give them too much or too litte importance.
  • Schwiggity
    Schwiggity Posts: 1,449 Member
    Salt shouldn't be eliminated, but the fact is that sodium is quite high in much of the processed foods we eat as Americans. Adding some salt to healthy natural food won't do you much of any harm, but when you're eating prepackaged foods for all of your meals PLUS salting the food, then it puts you at risk for hypertension and other health issues.
  • GaveUp
    GaveUp Posts: 308
    Processed food is the enemy not salt. Our bodies need salt to live.
  • JatieKo621
    JatieKo621 Posts: 425 Member
    Well, this is just like everything else. Moderation is the key. I like salt. I like fat. I like sugar. I like carbs. I like protein. I like alcohol. They all have a place in my life and I will not give them too much or too litte importance.

    Bravo!
  • IMYarnCraz33
    IMYarnCraz33 Posts: 1,016 Member
    Yes your body needs blood sodium levels...
    but if you consume too much, it's not healthy.

    Think about it... Salt was used as a PRESERVATIVE before there was refrigeration.
    and good point about Egyptians using it as part of their embalming--another way of preservation.
    NO THANKS.
  • seasonalvoodoo
    seasonalvoodoo Posts: 380 Member
    Interesting read. I do think that packaged food has way too much sodium. If I go over in that area I *gain* a ton of water weight. But I do think it is necessary in moderation. My sister's sodium levels are so low that she is not even allowed to drink water, only things like gatorade. They said they were surprised she wasn't in a coma!
  • KeriA
    KeriA Posts: 3,338 Member
    I liked your article. This article stressed the difference in naturally ocurring whole foods and processed foods including salt. Part of the problem is that we are getting alot of bad salt in prepared foods that we don't need. I add a little sea salt into most of my cooking but not alot. I do not avoid it completely but try to limit it some. I do find I go up a bit when I have high salt dinners out but it is temporary. The article is saying that regulating it to the extent of lowering blood pressure is not only not working but causing other problems such as insulin regulation. It makes the point that we need sodium. I liked what it said about unprocessed coconut oil too. It isn't suggesting we go out and eat all the salt we can it is saying try to keep to healthier sources of sodium and over regulating it causes more problems than it is supposed to be helping. It is also saying that the studies aren't conclusive that low sodium diets are even effective at what they are suppose to do. Yes follow your doctors advice but don't just blindly eliminate salt from your diet just from group think,
  • Zoe678
    Zoe678 Posts: 134 Member
    Very interesting!
This discussion has been closed.

Categories