“Salt of the Earth” or “Salt in the Wound?” SALT, Part 1 of 3

Hector L. Lopez, MD, MS, FAAPMR is my guest on Healthy by Nature this week. The first thing I’ll ask him is what the heck all those initials mean. He specializes in orthopedic, muscular, and cardiovascular health, so we’ll talk about that and the role of essential fats in controlling inflammation. We’ll also take your calls, so join the fun by calling 1(800)281-8255. Producer, Andy Hopkins takes the calls. He loves to hear from y’all. Note: If you are an Ohio State fan, be sure to say “Go Bucks!” (Hmmm, if you are a Michigan fan and want to get through to Dr. Lopez, maybe just skip football talk.)

SALT IN THE NEWS

It’s time to talk about salt and I don’t mean the Angelina Jolie spy movie. Since it has been all over the news, surely you’ve heard that the government has released new dietary guidelines. The most newsworthy change was in the recommendations about salt consumption which are now sounding like a warning. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been advising manufacturers and chain restaurants for some time to begin reducing the amounts of sodium contained in their wares implying that another shoe was about to drop. Then on January 31, 2011, the United States Department of Agriculture (U.S.D.A.) and the Department of Health and Human Services, released Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010. Here is a link to the Executive Summary. These “guidelines” are a periodic update to the collective federal wisdom on nutrition. (The famous food pyramid was another.) There are still a few blind spots in the publication, but on the whole it is pretty good advice. Before we get into the whys and wherefores of reducing salt, let me first say a few things in defense of it:

  Andrew Jackson, our 7th US president said: “Any man worth his salt will stick up for what he believes right, but it takes a slightly better man to acknowledge instantly and without reservation that he is in error.” Besides the useful insight, this quote hints that salt has been prized for at least 8,000 years for preserving food, for flavoring and for health.

Yes, health. Although typically demonized in the media, sodium is actually necessary for life. Were it possible to totally avoid sodium, we’d die because it is one of the electrolytes that help balance fluids in the body. Occasionally someone will die from drinking massive amounts of water which dilutes the electrolytes to critical levels.

Common table salt is sodium chloride. We use the chloride component too. For example, it is used to make stomach acid.

Deficiency of another electrolyte, potassium, may often be the real culprit when health problems are blamed on salt. These two minerals work together in a push/pull manner to move nutrients into cells through the cell membranes and remove wastes. Convenience foods and snacks are high in sodium. Since fruits and vegetables are the main source of potassium you can easily see how an imbalance could develop.

Some people, for instance those with adrenal problems, can be “salt losers” and actually need more salt to stay well. This is yet another example of how personal our chemistry is and points to the danger of “cookie-cutter” recommendations and prescriptions.

HOWEVER: Like most things, just because a little is good, that doesn’t mean more is necessarily better. Too much salt will kill plants as effectively as a commercial herbicide. (Putting salt on someone’s lawn is an illegal act of vandalism.) Chronic excess salt consumption also causes serious health problems for animals and humans.

In April 2010, the FDA proclaimed: “Today’s average sodium intake is several times what the body requires and its long-term effect on our health is very serious. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, affects one in three U.S. adults – nearly 75 million people aged 20 or older. An additional 50 million adults suffer from pre-hypertension. High blood pressure can increase the risk for heart attacks, strokes, heart failure, and kidney failure. Too much sodium in the daily diet is a major contributor to high blood pressure.”

These are the new guidelines from the USDA Executive Summary: “Reduce daily sodium intake to less than 2,300 milligrams (mg) [problem enough for the average Joe] and further reduce intake to 1,500 mg [a serious challenge] among persons who are:

o 51 and older
o and those of any age who are African American
o or have hypertension, diabetes, or chronic kidney disease.

The 1,500 mg recommendation applies to about half of the U.S. population, including children, and the majority of adults.”

Next week: Sodium, Part 2 will be about how to be a sodium scout in the grocery store and restaurants. Sodium Part 3 will discuss the different kinds of salt and why it matters which one we choose.

IN MEMORIUM

I cannot remember a time when Jack LaLanne wasn’t passionately inspiring us to exercise, eat right and juice. (I was just reminded that he earned a chiropractic degree in his early life.) We were all saddened to hear of his recent passing. I guess that means he wasn’t indestructible after all. However, we have to remember that although he started out as a sickly child, he became a world renowned model of fitness. Most amazingly, he was doing spectacular feats of physical strength and stamina into his seventies. Jack lived a healthy productive life to age 96—who could ask for more?

HEALTHFEST

The more I think about the impressive lectures, cutting edge exhibitors and special offerings at our 2nd Annual Natural HealthFest, the more excited I get. Additional details will be posted as we go along, but click here for the basics and to buy tickets. For those of you outside the immediate DFW area, we have arranged some good hotel deals near the convention center. I’m afraid this isn’t a good week to brag about the weather, but remember the event is April 2 and it should be great.

My first book : Natural Alternatives to Nexium, Maalox, Tagamet, Prilosec & Other Acid Blockers. Subtitle: What to Use to Relieve Acid Reflux, Heartburn, and Gastric Ailments.

My latest book : Aloe Vera-Modern Science Sheds Light on an Ancient Herbal Remedy

Copyright 2011 Martie Whittekin, CCN