The pseudoscience behind a low salt diet and why reducing sodium intake increases the risk of obesity, diabetes and a cardiovascular event.
“Mankind can live without gold … but not without Salt.” – Cassiodorus, Roman statesman, circa 500 AD
The FDA continues to recommend low salt diets, gradually moving toward the goal of 23o0 mg per day. This is despite strong evidence that a low sodium diet is not health-promoting and actually risks higher rates of disease and death.
Perhaps the FDA is attempting to usher in a modern manifestation of the ancient salt routes.
In the Dark and Medieval Ages, only the rich had enough salt. The peasants were unable to procure enough, and their health suffered greatly as a result.
Of course, the push to control the sodium content of food is cloaked in the argument that low salt diets are beneficial to health.
This is simply not so!
Low salt diets are flat-out harmful and there is plenty of research to back this up.
In fact, it is smart to use homemade sole water as an ionic supplement to ensure you are getting enough!
Research on Low Salt Diet Dangers
A compelling and large study that dismantles the sacred cow that salt is bad for you appeared in the Journal of the American Medical Association. (1)
3,681 healthy European men and women aged 60 or younger were followed for about 8 years.
Those that consumed higher than average amounts of sodium did not experience an increased risk for hypertension, stroke, or heart attack.
Dr. Jan Staessen MD, senior author of the study at the University of Leuven in Belgium stated that the study’s findings:
… do not support the current recommendations of a generalized and indiscriminate reduction of sodium intake at the population level.
Low Sodium Increases Disease and Death
It appears that it is much better to have a higher than average sodium intake than a lower one.
As published by the peer-reviewed Journal of the American Medical Association, even small decreases in sodium content in the diet increase the risk for a cardiovascular event and death.
The sodium levels adhered to in the JAMA study were based on USDA dietary guidelines.
Hence, people who follow low salt recommendations are at increased risk for a significant and possibly deadly health event!
The authors of the study wrote:
Taken together, our current findings refute the estimates of computer models of lives saved and healthcare costs reduced with lower salt intake. They also do not support the current recommendations of a generalized and indiscriminate reduction in salt intake at the population level. (2)
Dangers for Diabetics
Another study from Harvard University showed that participants developed insulin resistance in only 7 days when on a salt-restricted diet. (3)
Insulin resistance is an alarming condition that indicates a strong likelihood that Type 2 Diabetes will develop.
Similarly, Australian studies have shown that those individuals with Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes die in larger numbers when following a salt-restricted diet.
From a common-sense point of view, a review of these studies indicates that low salt intake is a particularly risky path for those with blood sugar control issues.
Given that 80% or so of adults over the age of 25 are already overweight or obese in the United States, FDA restrictions on salt content in food could put the majority of the population at considerable risk for early death.
Salt Replacement Risks
The very clear danger of any FDA-mandated reduction in the salt content of foods is that manufacturers will increase the amount of MSG to compensate for the loss of flavor.
This has been Big Food’s typical response to government calls for reduced sodium since the 1970s.
It appears, however, that food manufacturers have another favorite food additive that they use to stealthily replace sodium.
Senomyx Dirty Little Secret
The salt substitute of choice for Big Food is called Senomyx. It is so potent and requires such tiny amounts that it doesn’t even need FDA approval.
According to the Weston A. Price Foundation:
The Senomyx salt substitute is clearly a chemical product that works in the body as a neurological agent, causing an individual to perceive a salty taste. It would seem to be nothing more or less than a neurotrophic drug.
Because the maker of the Senomyx product calls it a food, their salt substitute does not require the extensive testing that would be required by the FDA if it were called a pharmaceutical.
To our knowledge, there has been no testing of the Senomyx salt substitute for safety, and it is so potent that the amount needed in food is below the amount requiring FDA approval. (4)
Most consumers are unaware that Senomyx widely uses aborted fetal cells in their flavor manufacturing. (5)
Besides this undisclosed ethical issue, the use of Senomyx, which tastes salty but does not satisfy the body’s biological need for salt, threatens consumers with even more weight issues!
This is because appetite does not sufficiently abate until enough salt is consumed.
Hungry all the time? Perhaps you are not getting enough salt!
In short, people continue to eat and eat until their bodies get sufficient salt regardless of what level the FDA might ordain. (6)
Which Salt is Best?
Obviously, people would do well to avoid refined or iodized salt for the same reasons as any other processed food.
Unrefined sea salt containing dozens of important trace minerals is the best type to source as part of a healthy diet.
Due to microplastic pollution found in sea salt in recent years, it is a good idea to make sure yours is tested for purity.
My preferred sea salt brand is this brand from the Sea of Cortez which is tested to be free of contaminants and microplastics. Use coupon HealthyHome10 for 10% off if you’d like to try it!
Sea of Cortez sea salt (“Baja Gold”) also contains the highest amount of trace minerals of any sea salt in the world (no other sea salt is even close).
If you’ve been afraid of too much salt in the past, it’s time to stop worrying. Your body NEEDS salt!
Objective studies show that low salt diets do more harm than good. The view that “salt is bad” is substantiated only by junk science.
(1-2) Fatal and nonfatal outcomes, incidence of hypertension, and blood pressure changes in relation to urinary sodium excretion
(3) Low-salt diet increases insulin resistance in healthy subjects
(4) The Salt of The Earth
(5) Hidden Food Ingredients
(6) Caustic Commentary Summer 2022
SAMPLE COMMENTS: *** please personalize your comments to have the most impact ***
I urge the FDA not to become involved in regulating or even recommending the level of salt in food.
The science shows that reducing salt will not make most people healthier. The level of salt consumption in the U.S. has remained stable for the last 50 years according to a recent Harvard study, yet the rate of obesity and hypertension has increased. Studies show that restricting salt helps a minority of the general population reduce their blood pressure, while either increasing blood pressure or having no effect on the majority of people’s blood pressure.
Moreover, reducing salt consumption could cause health problems for many people. Studies have shown that low sodium levels can increase insulin resistance (a precursor to Type 2 diabetes), lead to babies with low birth weights, and decrease in cognitive abilities in the elderly.
Salt is an essential nutrient, and the science does not support the theory that salt reductions will improve Americans’ health. The FDA should halt this process immediately.
Sincerely,
Name
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DEADLINE: Friday, January 27, 2012
Meg, there are Celtic sea salt individual packets. I believe they are on their website.
Studies Suggest Low Salt Diets Are Deadly http://t.co/mraeTnXm
Completely ridiculous that the FDA is not differentiating between real salt and processed salt! Besides containing many important minerals, salt is also necessary for fluid retention so you don’t get dehydrated (another silent epidemic in the US).
Please read it, thanks. http://t.co/XZqth7ox
It seems to me that those of us on the Traditional Foods diets will not be affected by this FDA regulation. After reading the first part of the FDA call for public commentary, it would seem that they are focused on reducing the salt in prepared foods, like Campbells Soups, and restaurant fare. If indeed children’s school lunches will be lower salt, perhaps concerned parents ought to send their child to school with salt packets. (And SOMEONE ought to create sea salt packets!)
Anyhow, the FDA is incapable of keeping attentive Americans away from salt. We’ll just continue to buy our sea salt at the store, and salt liberally, our foods made at home. It sure isn’t healthy for Americans on the SAD diet to consume massive amounts of iodized salt, people CAN have too much salt. Salt is ideally kept in homeostasis, neither too high, nor too low. And after all the decrying of iodized salt, one would think that lowering the salt content of things like Fast Food Fries and bacon, might not be so terrible.
I certainly can’t suggest that adding a neurotoxin to foods to compensate would be a good plan. But as much as possible, people should not be eating processed foods to begin with. I think that continuing to support a traditional foods diet will circumvent this salt issue altogether. Let the FDA do as they will…. they will anyway… No amount of public outcry is going to stop them from filling their pockets with the filthy money of Big Pharma.
Yes, we WILL ALL be affected. Small artisanal cheesemakers would have to restrict salt in their products as well. Fermented foods too. This is a big deal. Please do comment on the FDA form.
The idea that the salt taken out of any food and replaced with a chemical without studies on the adverse side effects is a problem for everyone whether you eat processed food or not.
I cant seem to find the right document to make a comment on. What wording should be put onto the search in order to locate the suggested regulation?
Celtic sea salt already sells salt packets they also sell little refillable bamboo containers that you can pour your salt into and just keep in your purse. That doesn’t solve the problem though.
Spice Lab’s Pink Himalayan Salt packets
I am living this. Years ago found out was allergic to shellfish…leading to the stay away from iodine theory…leading to non iodized salt. Then borderline hi B/P issues came about leading me to no salt diet. I enjoyed the natural taste of foods so this wasn’t hard for me. Well, I bet you guessed next…hypothyroidism. Given a life sentence of levothyroxine dose, I was led to do more research. I now only use Celtic salt trying to aid in replacing so many essential minerals that the years ago train wreck began. Research has led me to correct the fact that shellfish allergy doesn’t mean iodine allergy. MD’s were wrong. Fortunately, my family has been intervened with the good salt. Hopefully, no errors from a low salt/iodine free diet has harmed my 12 & 14 yr old. The table salt is not healthy for anyhow. Thanks to people like you teaching us. Thank you Sarah and The Westin A Price Foundation.
I thought it was pretty well established in the real food community that processed salt is “bad” for us because it is stripped of minerals and other things that are naturally suppose to be in salt. I constantly hear that have Celtic sea salt, Himalayan Sea Salt or Real Salt from Utah etc. are what is really healthy for us. I thought there was article about this is Wise Traditions. So I am surprised there is no mention of this here. Or is it that processed salt is better than no salt at all?
From listening to the Salt Guru at Wise Traditions, sodium in food is really not bad after all. Of course, the mineral loaded sea salt such as you describe is ideal, but it seems that a diet including processed sodium (not sea salt) is better than a diet which is restricted in sodium.
For people who subsist primarily on processed food, FDA restriction of sodium in those processed foods could prove deadly. Surely, processed foods are no good, but let’s not get utopian about this situation. The reality is that most people don’t get it about Real Food and are still eating garbage most of the time. Restricting the sodium on all that processed stuff they’re eating will make it (is it possible?) even worse!
Studies Suggest Low Salt Diets Are Deadly http://t.co/htUGys5i