(Nevada Appeal) — In an analysis that set off a fierce debate over the health effects of salt, researchers said on Wednesday they had found no evidence that small cuts to salt intake reduce the risk of developing heart disease or dying prematurely.
In a systematic review published by The Cochrane Library, British scientists found that while cutting salt consumption did appear to lead to slight reductions in blood pressure, that was not translated into lower death or heart disease risk.
The researchers said they suspected the trials conducted so far were not big enough to show any benefits to heart health, and called for large-scale studies to be carried out soon.
“With governments setting ever lower targets for salt intake and food manufacturers working to remove it from their products, it’s really important that we do some large research trials to get a full understanding of the benefits and risks of reducing salt intake,” said Rod Taylor of Exeter University, who led the review.
The Cochrane review attracted sharp criticism from nutrition experts. Francesco Cappuccio, head of the World Health Organisation’s collaborating centre for nutrition at Warwick University, said it was “a surprisingly poor piece of work”.
“This study does not change the priorities outlined worldwide for a population reduction in salt intake to prevent heart attacks and strokes, the greatest killers in the world,” he said in an emailed comment.
Simon Capewell, a professor of Clinical Epidemiology at Liverpool University, said the review was “disappointing and inconclusive” and did not change public health consensus that dietary salt raises blood pressure.
Most experts are agreed that consuming too much salt is not good for you and that cutting salt intake can reduce hypertension in people with normal and high blood pressure.
Many developed nations have government-sanctioned guidelines calling on people to cut their salt or sodium intake for the sake of their longer-term health. The World Health Organisation (WHO) lists reducing salt intake among its top 10 “best buys” for reducing rates of chronic disease.
(1 votes, average: 4.00 out of 5)
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Funny! In the US, I have been told repeatedly to cut down on my intake of salt. However, most of the products that profess to be “healthy” have large quantities of salt in them. Like, for instance, I developed a liking for unsalted butter while living in Europe. Hard to find it here. But, all the margarines that claim to be “heart healthy” have a “healthy” dose of salt in them. Funny!!
Almost as funny as the b/p meds I take that cause gout, that make me take another pill to fix that, which causes higher b/p, etc. etc. etc.
Finally truth about salt started to come out. Salt is the most important mineral in human health. In the times when salt was rare, roman soldiers got paid in salt (here is where salary came from). What amazes me how today’s bureaucrats defy thousands of years of empirical knowledge and people believe it. Everything that comes from FDA, WHO, etc. is a lie designed to benefit their sponsors. Whatever they say, do otherwise and you will be in good shape.
True. Little salt is necessary. However
I KNOW that consuming too much salt is not good for me and that cutting salt intake DEFINETELY reduces my hypertension. I would rather cut salt than increase medication. Why so much salt in so many foods???
Maybe because salt makes it teast better and we eat more
and buy more?
The World Health Organisation (WHO) lists reducing salt intake among its top 10 “best buys” for reducing rates of chronic disease. I agree with that approach.
salt is necessary to keep your electrolite levels in check. a very low salt diet will put you at serious risk of a heart attack, also Americans are extremely low in iodine which you get from iodised salt, although not nearly enough to what your body needs, i have completely reversed by type 2 diabetes by taking 50 mgs of pottasium iodine daily [iodoral ]and lost nearly 40 pounds without being on a diet, sugars used to run in 400 range. i take no other drugs for diabetes and feel great with energy of a 16 year old, alshiemers was called extreme stupidity 100 years ago and it was cured with iodine , also iodine is extremely effective for the treatment of skin cancers u can buy topical decolorized iodine and paint it on skin for skin cancer