Sea Salt Health Claims Flawed
11-17-2011 11:39 AM
Rock and sea salt is no different from ordinary table salt, despite claims it is natural and more healthy, say consumer groups.
Research for Which? and Consensus Action on Salt and Health found no difference in chemical content between regular salt and costly gourmet brands.
Manufacturers dispute the report saying it does not give the full picture.
Most UK adults eat too much salt, far above the recommended guideline of about a teaspoon a day.
Eating a diet high in salt is linked with high blood pressure, a risk factor for stroke, heart failure and heart disease.
The research analysed the chemical content of several gourmet brands of sea and rock salt, and compared this with ordinary table salt.
They say all contain almost 100% sodium chloride and are equally damaging to health in large quantities.
Celebrity chefs should not be encouraging people to sprinkle sea salt on food, the report claims, as you can get all the salt you need from a balanced diet.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-15757517
Hold the salt.
"Against the insidious wiles of foreign influence (I conjure you to believe me, fellow-citizens) the jealousy of a free people ought to be constantly awake . . ."
--George Washington's Farewell Address
--George Washington's Farewell Address
Re: Sea Salt Health Claims Flawed
[ New ]11-17-2011 12:17 PM
Sea salt is less processed and doesn't generally have commercial additives. The fact that trace minerals haven't been removed also means that they can have a different taste depending on their source.
Some say that natural sea salt that you grind yourself can seem saltier and add more flavor, so you can use less.
For those reasons and others, some consider it healthier than processed salt.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1745-459X.2010.00317.x/pdf
I'm always suspicious of studies that may be funded by commercial interests that seek to plug their own products, however, so it's a matter of personal taste and research, I think.
But no matter what you use, limiting your salt intake is a good idea. Americans in particular eat waaaay too much processed food and the salt content of a lot of them is pretty shocking when you look at them -- even if so-called "healthy" dinners that have reduced calories. We began watching our salt intake a few years back and it's made a world of difference. After a while, you learn to use herbs and other flavors routinely and don't even miss whatever salt you've cut out.
Some say that natural sea salt that you grind yourself can seem saltier and add more flavor, so you can use less.
For those reasons and others, some consider it healthier than processed salt.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1745-459X.2010.00317.x/pdf
I'm always suspicious of studies that may be funded by commercial interests that seek to plug their own products, however, so it's a matter of personal taste and research, I think.
But no matter what you use, limiting your salt intake is a good idea. Americans in particular eat waaaay too much processed food and the salt content of a lot of them is pretty shocking when you look at them -- even if so-called "healthy" dinners that have reduced calories. We began watching our salt intake a few years back and it's made a world of difference. After a while, you learn to use herbs and other flavors routinely and don't even miss whatever salt you've cut out.
"We're going to close the unproductive tax loopholes that allow some of the truly wealthy to avoid paying their FAIR SHARE." - R. Reagan June '85
Re: Sea Salt Health Claims Flawed
[ New ]11-17-2011 02:44 PM - last edited on 11-18-2011 05:07 AM
Up in the air over the studies and findings, the one obvious propensity of it is that salt, in any form is not good..We get enough of it in the products put out and don't need to supplement it..I quit using salt years ago and don't miss it one bit...
Re: Sea Salt Health Claims Flawed
[ New ]11-17-2011 04:46 PM
Chemically sea salt is the same as anyother salt. Plus, ALL salt is technically "sea salt" Most salt comes from MI salt mines--- remnants of a long dried-up sea.
grandmajudy wrote:
Wasn't there just a new study or something that said increased salt use does not cause high blood pressure. Can we really believe any of these 'flavor of the week' studies anymore?
Think globally, act locally
Re: Sea Salt Health Claims Flawed
[ New ]11-17-2011 05:14 PM
That is certainly true if you eat at restaurants, fast food places and use boxed and prepared foods. If you cook from scratch you can control the salt and use a lot less of it.
LindaJoyTh wrote:
Up in the air over the studies and findings, the one obvious propensity of it is that salt, in any form is not good..We get enough of it in the products put out and don't need to supplement it..I quit using sale years ago and don't miss it one bit...
Re: Sea Salt Health Claims Flawed
[ New ]11-17-2011 06:38 PM
Thank You Catherine, I never knew this!
catherinethegrea wrote:
Chemically sea salt is the same as anyother salt. Plus, ALL salt is technically "sea salt" Most salt comes from MI salt mines--- remnants of a long dried-up sea.
grandmajudy wrote:
Wasn't there just a new study or something that said increased salt use does not cause high blood pressure. Can we really believe any of these 'flavor of the week' studies anymore?
2012 Let's Get REAL
Re: Sea Salt Health Claims Flawed
[ New ]11-17-2011 07:09 PM
maximillian wrote:
The problem with sea-salt is simply that it's not iodized and the body needs small amounts of iodine. Sea-salt is fine but as table salt, use iodized.
i believe the thyroid is what benefits from the iodine. it helps the thyroid synthesize hormones. a diet without iodizied salt is not recommended.
Re: Sea Salt Health Claims Flawed
[ New ]11-17-2011 07:47 PM
Thanks, olboy. It's interesting that the body uses at least trace amounts of every element on the chart, cep'm maybe those ones at the end with hundreds of electrons that last less than a nano-second.
olboy wrote:
maximillian wrote:
The problem with sea-salt is simply that it's not iodized and the body needs small amounts of iodine. Sea-salt is fine but as table salt, use iodized.
i believe the thyroid is what benefits from the iodine. it helps the thyroid synthesize hormones. a diet without iodizied salt is not recommended.
Re: Sea Salt Health Claims Flawed
[ New ]11-18-2011 06:36 AM
From Men's Health ...
.
.
Salt Causes High Blood Pressure
Myth #5: "Salt causes high blood pressure and should be avoided."
The origin: In the 1940s, a Duke University researcher named Walter Kempner, M.D., became famous for using salt restriction to treat people with high blood pressure. Later, studies confirmed that reducing salt could help reduce hypertension.
What science really shows: Large-scale scientific reviews have determined there's no reason for people with normal blood pressure to restrict their sodium intake. Now, if you already have high blood pressure, you may be "salt sensitive." As a result, reducing the amount of salt you eat could be helpful.
However, it's been known for the past 20 years that people with high blood pressure who don't want to lower their salt intake can simply consume more potassium-containing foods. Why? Because it's really the balance of the two minerals that matters. In fact, Dutch researchers determined that a low potassium intake has the same impact on your blood pressure as high salt consumption does. And it turns out, the average guy consumes 3,100 milligrams (mg) of potassium a day—1,600 mg less than recommended.
The bottom line: Strive for a potassium-rich diet, which you can achieve by eating a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, and legumes. For instance, spinach, broccoli, bananas, white potatoes, and most types of beans each contain more than 400 mg potassium per serving.
Myth #5: "Salt causes high blood pressure and should be avoided."
The origin: In the 1940s, a Duke University researcher named Walter Kempner, M.D., became famous for using salt restriction to treat people with high blood pressure. Later, studies confirmed that reducing salt could help reduce hypertension.
What science really shows: Large-scale scientific reviews have determined there's no reason for people with normal blood pressure to restrict their sodium intake. Now, if you already have high blood pressure, you may be "salt sensitive." As a result, reducing the amount of salt you eat could be helpful.
However, it's been known for the past 20 years that people with high blood pressure who don't want to lower their salt intake can simply consume more potassium-containing foods. Why? Because it's really the balance of the two minerals that matters. In fact, Dutch researchers determined that a low potassium intake has the same impact on your blood pressure as high salt consumption does. And it turns out, the average guy consumes 3,100 milligrams (mg) of potassium a day—1,600 mg less than recommended.
The bottom line: Strive for a potassium-rich diet, which you can achieve by eating a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, and legumes. For instance, spinach, broccoli, bananas, white potatoes, and most types of beans each contain more than 400 mg potassium per serving.
Re: Sea Salt Health Claims Flawed
[ New ]11-18-2011 09:45 AM
It's salt, sea salt has trace amounts of other minerals and dead sea life (is sea salt vegan?) and rock salt is just re crystalized salt. Kosher or coarse, from the ocean or underground mines, it's salt. Still as PT Barnum said, there is a sucker born every minute. If they can make a billion dollars from selling people filtered tap water, they can make ten billion selling them salt.
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