Salt vs. Fat: Which Is Worse? | Dr. Robert Ostfeld - Exam Room Live Q&A

A cardiologist discusses whether salt or fat is the bigger concern for your health.

The average person is eating way too much of both, so which is doing the most damage? The answer may not be as clear cut as you’d expect, according to Dr. Robert Ostfeld, who joins “The Weight Loss Champion” Chuck Carroll to weigh in.

Topics Discussed

- How much fat is too much fat?
- Are all fats unhealthy?
- How much salt is too much salt?
- What is the healthiest type of salt?
- Different types of fat and how they affect the body differently
- Sodium bombs disguised as health foods

Have a health question? Post it in the comments or chat and we’ll answer as many as possible during the live broadcast.

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Exam Room LIVE in New York
When: July 12
Where: Museum of the City of New York
Who: Dr. Neal Barnard, Rip Esselstyn, Dr. Robert Ostfeld, Chuck and others!

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Dr. Robert Ostfeld
Appointments: 212-324-4222

Chuck Carroll

Physicians Committee

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[blue-fjky]

Chuck's enthusiasm and energy is an advertisement for this way of eating!

[krawlbwalking]

Thanks for this everyone. What I got over all about the salt part is pretty much anything that’s processed with added salt even though it’s plant-based it’s going to be too high in sodium. Better to make your own soup etc. so that you know what’s in it. And a little salt is ok.

[YvonneShamsan]

Bravo HEROS!!! How gently you put out the subjects that I'd put out with a roaring voice, without a shade of patience!... 😂🤣😂👏👏👏🌿🌾✔️

[debbiekiefer]

Just a comment for Chuck and Dr. Bernard. Went to the first Veg Fest of Southern Oregon today. Imagine how surprised and pleased to see a booth from Rogue Nutrition, that featured PCRMs literatura! This was held at an animal sanctury. Lots of people there!

[bitfinesse]

I wouldn’t be so casual about salt. I’m 37 years old, 6’1” and 145lbs. Three pounds of cabbages and 2.5 pounds of potatoes with a couple extra vegetables like cucumber, bell pepper and a honey crisp apple puts me right around my basal metabolic rate for calories with sodium around 800mg

If I add the freshest salsa I can buy, which is the market mild salsa that contains 5calories per serving, that tub is one pound and it’ll take my sodium over 3, 200mg.

So instead of salsa, i just use tomato paste for my lycopene to avoid stomach cancer and I add my beans and lime to this mixture. It’s close enough to salsa that I find it enjoyable while scooping with bell peppers and it keeps my sodium over 500 but below 1500. And I only have this stuff two or three times per week to keep my protein levels below the Nathan-Pritikin-recommended 13-14% so I’m not losing kidney function every year (get your BUN test next time you get labs drawn).

I think a gang of people watching this are going to be surprised by their first heart attack around the age of 45. Don’t forget, 75% of Americans think they eat healthy. And basically everyone thinks the human body is “cool” with handling poisons from time to time. How often do you punch yourself in the face? Probably never, right?

The world and it’s delicious poisons are getting worse. These companies are obligated to make more profits than last year for their shareholders. And where do you think those “extra” profits are coming from? They’re coming out of YOU and the wellness of your FAMILY.

I understand that we’re at war. And the only weapon we have is the decisions we make regarding what goes in our mouths.

Stay frosty, friends 🤗

[adiposerex]

Amazon has dulse flakes if iodine is needed. I put a tablespoon in my breakfast smoothie daily.

[JemsaiToam]

Is there a link for the diet that this doctor recommends?

[Elaine-ekgm]

What a great video as always, Chuck. Always look forward to your podcasts; you always have such great Dr.’s on your videos with such great info. Thanks again! ❤ 🥦 🍓 🫑 🥝 🍑 🥰

[TheBronxConservative]

Its so disheartening to see my cardiologist so proud of the new manhattan location. Wish he felt the same about the bronx Bainbridge location that myself and others are part of. We don’tv have a whole foods or much beauty to look at. So does that mean the quality of care for us in the bronx will diminish? He is a great listener and knowledgeable cardiologist nonetheless.

[clintp]

Salt+low cholesterol=bleed stroke risk? Glutened low BP after. Used salt months 150lbs40 LDL had sharp pains in head+day long storm inflammation in head yikes! 180lbs SAD diet 30 years never felt this

[gregmoore]

"I'll put the link in the description."

Like most YouTubers, you failed to do that.

[luluandmeow]

I've become addicted to Knorr veggie stock cubes and I have on average 2 a day. It seems really hard to find out how much salt and how many calories are in each stock cube, Knorr only gives this info per portion (to confuse customers!). Does anyone know where I can get this information? Thank you. I'm trying to cut down, the rest of my diet is very clean but these stock cubes have really got me and I've been adding them to everything

[white-rabbit]

Good informations. You can't pick one over another when both are worst. They both have to be left out.

[deepsquat]

Physician or not his dietary recommendations are completely off base

[suemassey]

We can quickly pee out the fluid from too much salt (with the help of specific herbs). Fats can easily hang in body and build up and will take more effort to get out of body.

[peter.]

The answer to the title is, "neither." The dose makes the poison.

[Ariel-oonc]

Low Sodium diets induce Osteoporosis as the body requires Sodium to perform critical functions in Energy Metabolism. Fat, in the form of Saturated Fat, is critical for Cholesterol synthesis which is how Minerals and Vitamins are shuttled through the Bloodstream.

[Aodh]

It's impossible to eat no fat, all vegetables, fruit and starches like whole grains, potatoes and beans have omega 3 and 6 fats in the correct ratio's. We can make all the saturated fat and cholesterol we need ourselves.

[TheOakenwulf]

Great video. The title seems a bit pessimistic. Maybe something like, "how much salt and fat is recommended for health and longevity." Thanks for the information.

[Meathead-]

I enjoy them both, I have a teaspoon of salt in my water in the morning and then I add salt to my steak and eggs when I remember.
I think both salt and saturated fat are both required but ensure it's animal fats as I think all plant fats are unhealthy.