This may be the most ridiculous — and dangerous — food trend of all time

When “low sodium” can mean “high death”

This may be the most ridiculous — and dangerous — food trend of all time.

Believe it or not, the hot new trend is low-sodium SEA salt.

Seriously! That’s like promoting salmon with low omega-3, or milk with reduced vitamin D.

What’s most absurd is that even sea salt packagers have caved in to the nonsense about sodium being bad for you. Their message should be the exact opposite, because sodium from salt is not only good for you, it’s critical.

In fact, if you cut back on sodium to the extreme, you’ll put yourself in danger four different ways.

Bucking the trend

Recently, researchers combed through years of sodium studies, looking for evidence that we should all keep our sodium levels low.

Know what they found? Nada. Nothing. There is zero evidence that anyone should follow the American Heart Association recommendation of less than 1,500 mg of sodium per day.

In fact, they found no evidence that limiting sodium to less than 2,300 mg per day produces any benefits either.

I would blame this low-sodium mania on junk science, but there’s no science there to blame it on! It’s a myth that became medical tradition.

But there IS plenty of evidence that low sodium is harmful. If you push sodium intake too low, you’ll sharply increase risks of these four health disasters…

1. Heart disease

2. Type 2 diabetes

3. Liver disease

4. Hyponatraemia

Number four might be new to you. It’s not exactly a household word. It’s the medical term for chronic low sodium. And the irony is that hyponatraemia symptoms are common conditions that most people simply chalk up to aging: fatigue, confusion, and poor balance.

So your doctor tells you to cut salt out of your diet. It’s a struggle, but you manage to do it. Then, when you tell him you’re feeling fatigued, easily confused, and off balance, what’s the response? Hey, you’re getting older. These things happen.

But they don’t have to happen to you!

If you want to get through your day with less fatigue, a clear mind, good balance, a healthy heart, and good control of blood sugar, then use real sea salt.

The kind with sodium. If it’s good enough to keep the entire eco-system working, it probably wasn’t designed to kill us.

Sources:
“Salt of the Earth targets kids with coloured low sodium salt” Caroline Scott-Thomas, Food Navigator, 9/17/13, foodnavigator.com