The Uncomfortable Truths About Salt

We have some doctors such as Dr Ken Berry saying that salt is healthy, but the American Heart Association guidelines say that we should aim for less than 1,500 mg per day for most adults. Who is right?

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Here are the links to the research papers referenced in the video:

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#Salt #Diet #Longevity

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[DrBradStanfield]

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[jeremylowe]

Here is what I know, I went on a low sodium diet and almost died from heart arrhythmia issues went back to a normal salt intake and all those issues went away, my cardiologist kept telling me to stay on the low sodium diet. I no longer see that cardiologist and haven’t had irregular heartbeat since.

[wonderingwonderer]

What you failed to mention in the lowered salt group was that they were consuming both sodium chloride and potassium chloride both needed for electrolytes and good health so the argument is not to get rid of sodium but to increase potassium in the right ratio whether it be from food or lower salt alternatives. If anyone exercises you need addition sodium to prevent cramps and arrhythmia so be careful.

[otto]

It'd be interesting if you went more into the sodium/potassium ratio in the diet instead of just sodium intake. The study you reference at 4:09 used a 75% sodium chloride 25% potassium substitute, so it not only lowered sodium intake, it also increased the potassium intake and lowered the sodium/potassium ratio. For me it is not clear what benefits come from lowering sodium and what benefits come from lowering the sodium to potassium ratio.

[atutor]

Dr. Stanfield, this makes me re-think the trust I have in your channel. The salt/hypertension myth has been disproven many times over in recent years. I can't believe you'd fall for this in 2023. Moderate to high sodium diets DO NOT increase blood pressure.

[mikelautermilch]

I think the actual numbers from those studies need to be discussed. For example, if I'm reading it correctly, the Cochrane review says the reduction in sodium in people with normal BP was associated with a reduction in BP of only 0.3%. Who would go through the trouble of reducing the saltiness of their food for such an insignificant result.

[Rockster]

I am endurance athlete (running and cycling) here in Arizona. I can tell you, that especially Summer, salt intake is essential to avoid dangerous hyponatremia. It's not usual to lose 4-6 pounds of body weight after a 2-3 Summer outdoor work out, which I would replace with 2-3 liters of water and about 2-3 grams of salt. Hyponatremia can trigger arrhythmia, syncope and death. The same goes for people that work outdoors in Arizona heat. It's all about context I guess. But I agree for sedentary individuals at comfortable ambient temps - they should watch their salt intake.

[wasimraja]

Not to be too blinded by science what I’ve been doing is to monitor my salt intake by the amount of activity I have been doing. If I’m more active I take a pinch more and if I’m being quite sedentary, which is most of the weekday, I try not to intake too much salt. I feel like that’s a happy medium and works well for me.

[hooywamdpe]

Increasing my salt intake helped me with my depression and exercise performance and stamina. I increased my potassium intake also to help counter the blood pressure side effect. Salt made me feel much better.

[sphires]

I eat 0 processed foods, if it didn't exist on a plate 100 years ago; I don't eat it.

But I eat a ton of salt and if I try to reduce salt intake I'll get muscle spasms among other symptoms. The problem of following average guidance is that it doesn't take into account your personal needs if you have extenuating circumstances. Following these studies closely only makes sense if you're the main character of Idiocracy and are completely average about everything.

[texastexas]

I don't know why many experts keep saying X mg of Na instead of total salt weight. Most people mistake it for total salt. Please make that clear throughout the video. 2300 mg of Na equals 5750 mg of salt (NaCl, table is, 40% Na and 60% Cl.

Also, the amount salt intake varies from person to person. For some lower salt intake is a a better option but for others, higher salt intake is a healthier option. People with lower BP may take more salt.

[timflorance]

In the study with the salt substitute I wonder how much of an effect just having the extra potassium had. I’ve been adding about a gram/day of potassium to my diet without altering sodium intake and have noticed lower BP.

[libertycowboy]

Actually been thinking of this alot lately . Thanks from Texas! I discovered your channel about a year ago, and it's changed my life. MUCH healthier now!

[MAGNUMF]

Changed my food as i had high blood pressure. My high blood pressure corrected itself. I continue to use salt to taste. I never lowered it during my dietary changes.

[MagusPeter]

Could you break down your view on the antinutrient controversy in plant foods and their effect on mineral absorbtion and overall health? Are there ways to lower their impact with a healthy microbiome?

[spookylittlebat]

I have symptomatic low blood pressure and the doctors are always telling me to increase my sodium intake. I do feel worse when I increase my potassium intake and I do feel better when I increase my sodium intake. I wish more attention was paid to low blood pressure and that food labels stated potassium content as well as sodium, as the right balance seems to be crucial

[terryhutchinson]

Those taking the salt substitute were, in effect, raising their potassium as well. Perhaps it's the higher potassium that lowered the cardiovascular risk?

[scottjohnson]

If i don't consume enough sodium, potassium, and magnesium (electrolytes) I wake up at night with leg and foot cramps.

[m]

And what about Japan ? They are using 10 gr of salt in average per day and have the highest lifespan in the world....

[albi]

I am not convinced. In the Cochrane review, the effect was that lowering salt intake resulted in a miniscule reduction of BP (1 mmHg) for people with normal BP. And it resulted in a rise of stress hormones and lipids (so what is more important lowering BP or lowering lipids?). Moreover in the study from JAMA Intern Med. 2018, the reduction of BP resulted in the risk ratios being insignificant in the group with normal BP (so why do we recommend lowering salt intake for everyone?)