13
Apr
Myth 4 - Sodium (Salt) is Bad
Reading time - 3 mins
The health authorities constantly tell us to reduce sodium in our diet to lower blood pressure. Most people are eating about 3400 mg of sodium per day and we are advised to cut back to 1500-2300 mg per day (about 3/4 to 1 teaspoon of salt).
Interestingly, many studies have examined whether sodium restriction has any effect on cardiovascular disease or the risk of death. These studies consistently found no negative effects… even in individuals with high blood pressure.
Other studies show that too little sodium can also be harmful, leading to adverse effects such as insulin resistance, elevated LDL (Bad) cholesterol and triglycerides. There is also research supporting an increased risk of death in type II diabetics with reduced or low levels of sodium.
Sodium is one of the most important electrolytes and is easily lost when we exercise through sweat. It is important to choose carefully where the sodium comes from and our suggestion is pink Himalayan or Celtic sea salt. This way, you are guaranteed to get a good natural balance of the micro minerals and trace elements found in these super foods.
Bottom Line
Despite sodium restriction being able to mildly reduce blood pressure, it does not lead to improved health status. In fact, performance and health can be negatively impacted by lowering sodium intake. If you reduce your packaged and processed foods, you will need to purposefully add sodium to your diet by using Pink Himalayan or Celtic Sea Salt.
Read more in the 'Nutrition Myths Busted' Series
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