“Mankind can live without gold … but not without Salt.” – Cassiodorus, Roman statesman, circa 500 AD
The Feds are at it again. This time, if they have their way, the amount of salt in food will soon become highly restricted, perhaps the modern manifestation of the ancient salt routes, which during the Dark and Medieval Ages, lined the pockets of the rich and greatly harmed the peasants who were unable to procure enough to maintain health.
Of course, the FDA 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 harmful to health and there is plenty of compelling research that backs this up.
The most recent study which dismantles the sacred cow that salt is somehow bad for you appeared in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), May 2011.
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 Salt Diets Are Deadly
It appears that it is much better to have a higher than average sodium intake than a lower than average one. In 2010, The Journal of the American Medical Association published the results of a study that showed even small decreases in sodium content in the diet increase the risk for a cardiovascular event and death.
The sodium levels adhered to in this study were based on US government-recommended dietary guidelines, so people who follow these low salt recommendations are in fact at increased, not decreased, the 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.
Another 2010 study from Harvard University showed that participants developed insulin resistance in only 7 days when on a salt-restricted diet! 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 for salt content in food could put the majority of the population at considerable risk for early death!
Coincidence? New Salt Replacement to Hit the Market
The very clear danger of the FDA mandated a reduction in the salt content of foods and putting government muscle behind the promotion of low salt diets is that manufacturers will increase the amount of MSG in foods 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 a new food additive to replace sodium should these new salt restrictions be approved. Could this be why Big Food is behind this current push by the FDA?
The salt substitute is called Senomyx and 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.”
A chemicalized salt substitute that capitalizes monetarily on the low salt diets trend promoted by the FDA? Absolutely.
Meet The Salt Guru Who Warns Against Low Salt Diets
How can we join forces to stop the FDA in its quest to restrict the salt in our foods?
Enter Morton Satin, The Salt Guru, an entertaining and compelling speaker featured at the Wise Traditions 2011 Conference in Dallas Texas.
A molecular biologist by training, Satin is a former United Nations executive and author with extensive experience in all aspects of the food industry. He is currently Vice President of Science and Research at the Salt Institute and he is fighting to block these new salt restrictions by the FDA.
Please watch this informative 2-minute video featuring The Salt Guru which pithily explains why salt is actually good for you and how you can help stop the FDA from meddling with your salt!
Click here for ideas on where to source the highest quality, purest sea salt to facilitate optimum health. Ditch low salt diets, substantiated only by junk science, for good!
Source
Coconut and Almond Milk in Cartons Not a Healthy Buy
Studies Suggest Low Salt Diets Are Deadly http://t.co/htUGys5i
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!
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.
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
Please read it, thanks. http://t.co/XZqth7ox
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).
Studies Suggest Low Salt Diets Are Deadly http://t.co/mraeTnXm
Meg, there are Celtic sea salt individual packets. I believe they are on their website.
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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
Low salt is bad for you! 7 days on a low salt diet CREATES insulin resistance in healthy people. http://t.co/pqvEkSVO (via @healthyhomeecon
Great article again. Salt is a vital nutrient, and a lack of salt leads to illness and death. The salt needs of every individual varies, with the specific condition of their body, so it is insane and evil to try to enforce a one amount fits all salt restriction.
I respectfully disagree with the idea that processed salt, stripped of its minerals, with added sugar, artificial iodine, and chemicals added to keep the salt from clumping, is anywhere as good as real, unprocessed sea salt. Our bodies our programmed to ear real salt, and salt stripped of its minerals can actually cause a salt craving, as our bodies fail to find the minerals that should be there. For myself, I eat only unprocessed sea salt, and let my appetite be my guide in deciding how much to eat. The body knows much better than any bureaucrat or corporation corrupted scientist how much salt it needs. Sometimes I will have a lot, sometimes only a little. But I always have as much as I want.
And I do not want to be guinea pig for some Frankenstein chemical that is designed to trick my body.
No way should our government get involved in this, especially when it could hamper our access to traditionally fermented foods and cheese.
This is interesting. I just got back from my Holistic Doctor and he said I was low in sodium. I don’t eat much processed food and use sea salt liberally. I do notice that there is a big difference in using real salt to store bought salt. I don’t swell up using sea salt but do when I eat anything that is processed with salt.
Can you tell me what you do for iodine? On my Celtic sea salt it says it is not a significant source. Thank you!
My suggestion is to get kelp granules. They are very high in iodine and can be added to your foods just as easily as salt and pepper are.
Studies Suggest Low Salt Diets Are Deadly http://t.co/eX4INMGC
I am coming across soooo many people who think they are being healthy by not using salt. I am noticing this trend particularly prevalent around the elderly, whose doctors are telling them to eat a low-salt diet. It seems like the low salt diet is akin to the craze of low fat diets. I agree with Brenda that the issue of processed and unprocessed salt is confusing. Like Brenda, I thought processed salt was a no-no and unprocessed salt was the only way to go. I will certainly share this important information with family, friends and people following my blog. Thanks for this post!!
This is horrifying. Senomyx is manufactured using human cells. The inclusion of human cells in some vaccines was the reason I first questioned them. And here again, a company is trying to whitewash it as “healhy” with a government backing. And it (Senomyx) can be in anything with “artificial flavorings.”
Studies Suggest Low Salt Diets Are Deadly – The Healthy Home Economist http://t.co/OpsSREqm
I highly recommend getting a recording of the talk Morton Satin gave at the Nov 2011 Weston Price conference. I couldn’t resist getting out my notes. Among the many fascinating facts he shared are:
– low sodium outcomes include insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, cognition loss, unsteadiness, falls, fractures
– in homes for the elderly, low salt diets are automatically implemented and the rates of falls and broken hips are 3 times greater than elsewhere, plus it contributes to loss of appetite and loss of interest in life
– it’s a common misconception that we consume more salt now due to processed foods; salt was used to preserve all kinds of foods prior to modern refrigeration and food processing. After WWII consumption went from 18-20 grams to 9 grams per day
– the data shows the more salt you eat, the longer you live
– there’s a myth that the so-called heart healthy Mediterranean diet is low in sodium where in fact it has 40% more salt than US (it’s in cheese, preserved meats, traditional foods)
– the same person who developed the govt DRI dietary guidelines for salt consumption is the same person asked to evaluate the guidelines. This equals corruption, and it’s a case of ideology, not science.
So, you like your cheese the way it’s supposed to be, with salt? The effects of these new rules will be far reaching. Do make your voice heard. There’s just one week left now for public comments so click the link above!
And here’s the correct link to the govt comment page:
http://www.regulations.gov/#%21submitComment;D=FDA-2011-N-0400-0038
Thanks Beth. I fixed the link. Don’t know what happened there. WordPress snafu.
Wow Sarah, you’re at it again! This piece and the link to Sally Fallon’s article have finally helped me convince my husband that he needs to eat more salt, not less. We eat no processed food, yet once in a while he sneaks potato chips – simply because he craves the salt. He’s agreed to try salting his food for a few weeks and see if that helps. He’s underweight – despite having a terrific appetite- I wonder if this will have any effect? Thankyou!!
One of my children LOVES salt. I just give her the salt shaker and let her have at it. She won’t eat eggs unless they are heavily salted. We use good quality sea salt, of course, and I don’t worry how much she uses. She is just like her Grandma, I might add so it’s just a genetically strong taste for salt. Do I worry about it? No, I just let her salt to taste which is what everyone should do and forget what the know nothing government bureaucrats have to say about it.