The assault on salt: Is it necessary?
Pepper would be lonely without his friend!
photo by flickr user Jonathan Muehlke
To give you some scientific background, table salt is actually sodium chloride, or a combination of electrolytes. Our body needs electrolytes to regulate fluids in the body. Sodium tends to promote water absorption. The balance of water in the body, and particularly in the cells is very tricky. Our bodies cannot function with too much or too little sodium.
As I delved into a March IDEA Fitness Journal (for fitness professionals) article called "To Salt or Not to Salt," I read the recent research about salt and how it affects the body. It mentions that sodium may or may not contribute to hypertension. The experts go back and forth about whether salt really is so unhealthy.
They cover situations in athletes, citing that they may need those electrolytes in their sports drinks. On the other hand, they caution those who are at higher sensitivity to sodium to try and limit their personal consumption. The article simply explored many sides of this debate.
All of this research left me with the question: "What's a person to do?" Does this mean that we all have to take one of our two cute table shakers and smash it with a hammer? Where's the symmetry in that? I personally still like to shake a bit of salt on my eggs and pasta. Am I in danger?
To answer this question, I would advise you to look inward, instead of overanalyzing all of the outside research. Do you have high blood pressure? Do you have sensitivity to sodium? Are you addicted to Chef Boyardee?
If so, I would simply try and avoid adding sodium to your diet. However, if you are healthy and eat a reasonable diet, you can probably feel free to shake a bit of table salt on those eggs or pasta from time to time.
The assault on salt may be a tad of a pre-emptive strike. Protect yourself by being informed and reasonable.
Eva Johnson is an ACE (American Council on Exercise) certified personal trainer, who has to admit she has weaknesses for salty foods (nachos anyone?). She lives in chaos with her husband and two boys. To see her complete blog about how to stay sane and in shape in the real world, visit www.fitnessbyeva.com.
Comments
BobbyJohn
Mon, Apr 4, 2011 : 8:53 p.m.
eve Most of us get a very small percentage of our salt intake from adding salt w/ a shaker. even our own cooking doesn't add that much for most people. What really ups it for most people is eating processed foods, which are typically loaded with salt. This is the main focus of the government. Face it, salt adds flavor and most processed foods are so lacking in flavor that they depend on the salt. Restaurant food also has quite a bit of salt, but most of us don't eat out that regularly to affect us like processed foods.