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How salt could reverse these false symptoms of old age
26th July 2009
* Why too LITTLE salt could be bad for you
* How sodium could rid you of the 'symptoms of old age'
* 3 tips on how to get enough salt
I was cooking for some friends on Friday night...
No, I don't mean the flax muffins I mentioned in the
last Good Life Letter. That's my food project for NEXT
weekend. Among the many 'to do' tasks my wife has
stapled to my forehead.
For my friends' delight, I was rustling up monkfish with lemon
mayonnaise. One of my favourite dishes.
As I ground a shower of sea salt onto the fish, my friend
John said in astonishment:
'Woa there! Easy on the salt. Are you trying to give us a group
heart-attack?'
I slowly put down the salt grinder and turned to the table where
they were all sipping drinks.
'Oh please no!' said my wife, her head hitting the table.
'Nonsense!' I bellowed. 'This is EXACTLY why I get angry with
government issued medical scare stories. You're victimising
the WRONG kind of salt.'
And from there I launched into a 10 minute rant. One that my
wife has heard too many times, but that I think you'll be very
interested in.... especially if you're an otherwise healthy person
who has been avoiding salt at all costs.
Don't worry. I'll be quick and to-the-point...
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Why health do-gooders will hate me for saying this
I think it's about high time we put the food fascists on the back
foot...
* The anti-butter brigade should run home with their
discredited margarines. The new heart disease links to
margarine are ringing in their ears.
* The low-fat army should retreat, clutching their
modified fake foods. They've realised that the big food
companies who manufacture endless new 'low fat'
products are getting richer... while everyone's getting
FATTER.
* The coffee hating, red wine loathing foot-soldiers
are now looking a bit foolish and lonely. Scientists are
lining up to point out that these things, in moderation,
are actually good for you.
Next in line for a bit of a battle: the low salt champions.
Why some people don't get ENOUGH salt
A few outspoken scientists are now making a new claim: that
people can suffer health problems when they don't get
enough salt in their diets.
Last year, researchers from the Albert Einstein College of
Medicine at Yeshiva University published a controversial report
in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.
They went as far to say that there was 'no evidence' that a
high sodium intake can 'independently cause, or lead to a
higher risk of, heart disease'.
Dr. Hillel W. Cohen, author of the study said:
'Our findings suggest that for the general adult population,
higher sodium is very unlikely to be independently associated
with higher risk of death from CVD or all other causes of
death.'
This went against a study from 2007, published in the British
Medical Journal. It said that reducing salt intake could cut the
long-term risk of cardiovascular disease by up to 35%.
But the controversial scientists at Albert Einstein College aren't
alone.
Back in 2004, Professor Ingo Fusgen of at Germany's
University of Witten-Herdecke told a conference that as many
as 10% of elderly might suffer from hyponatraemia. This is
where your blood levels contain very low levels of sodium.
Symptoms of hyponatraemia include tiredness, incontinence
poor concentration, and lack of balance.
This means that many people walk around believing they are
suffering from the problems of 'old age'.... when it fact it's low
sodium levels that are the problem.
And this is easily solved... by eating a little more salt! |
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Why the 'one-size-fits-all' advice is dangerous
The problem is that many people believe that salt causes high
blood pressure, full stop. So they almost entirely give up eating
salt. And this is dangerous.
The UK's Food Standards Agency claim that in the UK 26
million people eat too much salt. They say they're determined
to bring down the average UK salt intake to 6g a day.
However, this blanket 'one size fits all' recommendation is
dangerous.
Here's why...
The Food Standards Agency also tell us that processed foods
contribute to 75% of salt intake. This is the key to the problem
in my view.
Someone who eats lots of ready meals, white breads and pre-
made sauces not only eats too much salt but will be unhealthier
for lots of other reasons too.
I would agree entirely that they eat too much salt, and that their
lifestyle and food choices are also a serious danger factor.
Now let's take someone who rarely eats any processed food.
Instead they eat freshly home cooked meals, including lots of
fresh fruit, veg, fish and meat.
If this person follows mainstream advice, listens to the scare
stories, and abstains from salt, they are actually in danger of
having low levels of sodium.
And otherwise healthy people are living in fear of salt, when
actually they can eat it in moderation on fresh, high quality
food.
So...
Here are 4 tips for getting ENOUGH salt
* Before you listen to general government advice and
panic about your risk of high blood pressure, look
closely at your own diet and lifestyle. Adjust this before
you decide to cut out one demonised ingredient.
* Avoid processed foods. Eat them as an occasional
guilty treat if you love 'em. But beware that they're
packed with stupidly high levels of salt, and are
ridiculously low in nutrition.
* Avoid mass marketed bread - many brands are
packed full of salt. In 2007, a study showed that 64% of
big brand breads had far too much salt. Avoid anything
that contains more than the four essential ingredients:
flour, water, yeast and salt. Make your own bread, or
get access to a high quality bakery.
* Try and cook for yourself as much as possible with
fresh ingredients. Now you can feel free to season your
food with salt. In moderation, salt is GOOD for you. Try
some high quality sea salt.
When it comes to salt, I think a bit of common sense and
moderation is the order of the day! |
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