Should you avoid sodium? Yes — if it’s one of the unhealthy types of sodium in processed foods

Salt is not bad for you.

That sentence might make a few mainstream heads explode. But it’s true.

As I mentioned in yesterday’s e-mail, salt is not a threat to your heart. As long as you balance salt intake with adequate potassium, you’re fine.

But sodium is a different story.

A girl at work asked me if there are different types of sodium. And if so, are there good forms and bad forms?

Absolutely. “Yes” to both of those questions.

Salt is sodium chloride. That’s no problem. (Just a side note: sea salt is better than table salt. Table salt producers strip out the nutrients.)

But we take in most other forms of sodium as additives in processed foods.

For instance, sodium nitrate is a preservative in processed meats. It may increase cancer risk. And then there’s monosodium glutamate (MSG) — obviously bad news. This flavor enhancer can cause headaches, dizziness, and chest pains.

Severe reduction of sodium intake is an unhealthy mainstream dogma. But keeping intake of processed food to a minimum is an excellent idea. And that would significantly reduce sodium intake.

So if you put it that way… Yes, I agree. Reduce sodium. Just reduce the right kinds.