Shake the Salt?

According to Dian Griesel, Ph.D., and Tom Griesel in their new book, TurboCharged: Accelerate Your Fat Burning Metabolism, Get Lean Fast and Leave Diet and Exercise Rules in the Dust (Business School of Happiness, 2011), the low-salt-for-health debate isn’t over. A recent European study followed 3,681 middle-aged folks who did not have high blood pressure or heart disease. They were divided into three groups: low salt, moderate salt and high salt. At the end of the study there had been 50 deaths in the low-salt group, 24 in the moderate-salt group and only 10 in the high-salt group. The risk of heart disease was 56 percent higher in the low-salt group.

The Griesels say, “There is no disagreement that high blood pressure—even moderately high—is a risk factor for heart disease and stroke. However, salt consumption does not seem to have the same effect on everyone. In addition, there is usually no distinction on the type of salt used. There are many naturally harvested salts that also contain many trace minerals, which undoubtedly have an effect. Medical literature on salt consumption (like many other things) is inconsistent.”