To salt or not to salt?

June 28, 2016   |   Evidence in Integrative Healthcare

Is the age-old advice of “too much salt is bad for everyone” correct? Aaron E. Carroll, writing for The Upshot column in The New York Times, covered a new meta-analysis study that looked at salt consumption and how it is connected to heart attacks, strokes, death and blood pressure. He noted that the idea that people with high blood pressure should avoid excessive salt holds true, but this does not translate to people who don’t have high blood pressure. However, that’s not the whole story as the study demonstrated that the outcomes of people with high blood pressure who used too little salt (less than 3 grams) was actually worse than a using a moderate amount (4-5 grams) or higher levels (more than 7 grams). Lastly, even those without high blood pressure who used less than 3 grams of salt per day also demonstrated an increased risk.

So, as Mr. Carroll writes, take dietary advice about salt consumption “with a grain of you know what”.