Topic: Is salt (NaCl) dangerous?

[gervasium]

Without going into the studies side of it, I thought I should talk about the physiology of salt in the organism. Na+ acts on the CNS to induce thirst and on the kidneys to conserve water. This is because excess ions on the blood cause hyperosmolarity and increasing blood volume, by the water-re-absorption and thirst methods dilutes ions in the blood. Increased water leads to increased blood volume, which leads to increased blood pressure. This is the mechanism by which salt intake is thought to be associated with high blood pressure and related symptoms. What concentration of salt is too much I can't say, since I don't have the bibliography with me and don't know of any study on that.

BUT, more importantly, salt is not a toxin, it's not poison. It's a vital part of our function, and to drive that home I'll leave you with the symptoms of lack of salt: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/hyponatremia/DS00974/DSECTION=symptoms

[DarthCaitSith]

Just to throw out another non-useful anecdote, I am overweight, sedentary, and eat lots of salt and have a BP of 120/80. 
 

[Boßel]

Just to throw out another non-useful anecdote, I am overweight, sedentary, and eat lots of salt and have a BP of 120/80.

Another useless anecdote: I'm not overweight (though I could lose a few lbs), I walk around campus and do a lot of yard work. I also take in an enormous amount of salt. I have a BP of 113/75.

Also, Diet Coke has a lot of sodium too right? Yeah, I drink at least 5-6/day.

[lonely moa]

Salt restriction only buys you a few mm of hg, like 1 or 2%.

[Cognoscento]

I just had to get started taking blood pressure medication.  My doctor just asked me if I eat a lot of salt.  I don't - and he didn't recommend any low sodium regime for me.  I am an avid cyclist and a runner, and I live in a hot climate, so I sweat gallons.  That probably lowers my sodium levels a great deal.  The medicine I am on is really cheap and it knocked my BP down right away.


The main problem with salt is processed food anyway.  Cook your own food, and you avoid 90% of the problem.

I also lose LOADS of salt on a regular basis due to physical activity.  After a good workout (especially in the summer), my workout clothes are completely white and chalky.  I find that I crave salty things a lot more since I started all the fitness stuff.  According to my calorie counting /nutrition log, my average sodium intake is around 3500mg/day.  My blood pressure is on the low side for someone my age though.   Also, nothing in my bloodwork appears to raise any red flags with my doctor during my semi-annual physicals.   

[lonely moa]

I just had to get started taking blood pressure medication.  My doctor just asked me if I eat a lot of salt.  I don't - and he didn't recommend any low sodium regime for me.  I am an avid cyclist and a runner, and I live in a hot climate, so I sweat gallons.  That probably lowers my sodium levels a great deal.  The medicine I am on is really cheap and it knocked my BP down right away.


The main problem with salt is processed food anyway.  Cook your own food, and you avoid 90% of the problem.

I also lose LOADS of salt on a regular basis due to physical activity.  After a good workout (especially in the summer), my workout clothes are completely white and chalky.  I find that I crave salty things a lot more since I started all the fitness stuff.  According to my calorie counting /nutrition log, my average sodium intake is around 3500mg/day.  My blood pressure is on the low side for someone my age though.   Also, nothing in my bloodwork appears to raise any red flags with my doctor during my semi-annual physicals.

Have you read "Waterlogged" yet?  You might like it... 

[Cognoscento]

Have you read "Waterlogged" yet?  You might like it...

No....and I notice that it keeps coming up. I guess I'm gonna have to break down and read it. 

[esterin]

A Sciencemag article by Gary Taubes reviewing the salt research.
http://garytaubes.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/science-political-science-of-salt.pdf

A NYT article By Gary Taubes, a shorter updated version
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/03/opinion/sunday/we-only-think-we-know-the-truth-about-salt.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0