Study: "Disappointly weak" link between salt and high blood pressure

Yahoo ^ | 6 Dec 2012 | Lisa Collier Cool

[shove_it]

For decades table salt has been on a healthy heart’s most wanted list. Believing it’s responsible for skyrocketing blood pressure, Americans have banned salt from tables and stripped it from recipes.

But new research says salt just might deserve a bit of a reprieve.

The link between salt and blood pressure is thought to date back to the 1940s when Duke University researcher Walter Kempner, M.D., became famous for using salt restriction as a means to treat people with high blood pressure. During the next few decades, studies confirmed Kempner’s theory that reducing salt could help reduce hypertension.

A Controversy is Born

Despite history, a brand new review of several studies from the past few decades related to blood pressure and salt intake suggests Kempner wasn’t right—that salt might not have as much of an effect on blood pressure and heart health as suspected.

The team leading the review published in the December 2012 Health Affairs pored over dozens of studies, some dating back to 1967, and said they were unable to find a link between salt intake and a risk for high blood pressure...

[Gandalf_The_Gray]

I was hospitalized some years back with some heart related problems. A nurse noticed I had a habit of crossing my legs at the ankles when laying in bed. She told me that I should stop that practice as it "raised your BP". I told her to get a cuff and prove it. She walked out and never brought it up again.

Regards,
GtG

[shove_it]

Hi GB58,

As kids we used to pick up that road salt and suck on it. Most of us survived.

[trebb]

If salt was the culprit, my BP would 190/120 instead of 115/65 because I love salt and use it copiously.

[EternalVigilance]

There are as many opinions about this as there are people, pretty much. Commenting on this subject is about as smart as commenting on a Civil War thread. Someday I’ll learn...

[Fresh Wind]

Use pure sea salt.

Sea salt tastes better too.

[EternalVigilance]

I think so.

[who knows what evil?]

Use pure sea salt.

Indeed...Celtic or Redmond Real Salt is goooood for you.

[RedMonqey]

That’s why they call it medical PRACTICE!

That’s why they call it medical ARTS!

[Hoosier Catholic Momma]

I’m a saltaholic. I am 5’4” and weigh about 115 lbs (after 4 kids, LOL). My BP has always been in the 90/50 range. The only time it has been high was when I was pregnant with my first, when I developed pre-eclampsia. Curiously enough, the child who caused that also has a low BP and she loves salt about as much as I do. I also craved insanely spicy foods during that pregnancy and now she loves anything that’s spicy. Jalapenos are her favorite food group, I think ;)

[RedMonqey]

I continue to use ‘some’ sea salt.

All salt is ‘sea’ salt

Salt is salt

Most, if not all, table salt is processed from sea water in evaporation ponds. Mined salt, usually for spreading on roads and for industrial use comes from ancient seas, long ago evaporated and covered over ages ago. But all are ‘sea’ salt and the same chemically.

Don’t fall for the hype of the "Mad Men" advertising agencies

Hoping you the best of health...

[RedMonqey]

Graybeard58

I agree too.

Salt is salt, everything else is hype of the “Mad Men” advertising agencies.

[RedMonqey]

As kids we used to pick up that road salt and suck on it. Most of us survived.

And the dirt you ate with it didn't hurt either.

In fact it probably helped strengthen your immune system....
Although I wouldn't advise doing it today with all the other de-icing chemicals they use now....

[Marie]

My husband controls his BP with carbohydrate intake. If he eats too many carbs, his BP goes up. He’ll behave himself for a month or so and his BP goes back to normal.

He can eat a lot more carbs than I can, though. Breakfast will be 2 pieces of toast plus a piece of fruit. Lunch is a sandwich plus a small bag of chips. With dinner he’ll have 1/2 Cup rice or potatoes. The rest is eggs, meat, cheese, salads, etc.

It’s when he hits the ‘gut bomb’ machine at work or has those extra chips as a snack after dinner than things start to go wonky. BP and triglycerides both go up.

100-120g is about right for him. I’ve got to keep it below 50 or I start falling apart.

[Gator113]

From http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/sea-salt/AN01142

“The real differences between sea salt and table salt are in their taste, texture and processing, not their chemical makeup.

Sea salt is produced through evaporation of seawater, usually with little processing, which leaves behind certain trace minerals and elements depending on its water source. The minerals add flavor and color to sea salt, which also comes in a variety of coarseness levels.

Table salt is mined from underground salt deposits. Table salt is more heavily processed to eliminate minerals and usually contains an additive to prevent clumping. Most table salt also has added iodine, an essential nutrient that’s lacking in naturally occurring sea salt.”

I can taste the difference, so I’ll keep using sea salt, in moderation. Each to their own.

Cheers.....