That shake of salt over your steak may not be as bad as you think. We’ve been told for years to cut back on sodium to protect our hearts. But emerging research suggests that, far from something to avoid, salt, when not consumed in excess, is essential for optimal health.
The Crucial Roles of Salt in the Body
Salt, or sodium chloride, is crucial to a healthy diet.It has many functions, especially facilitating nutrient absorption, Chris Masterjohn, who has a doctorate in nutritional sciences, told The Epoch Times. Sodium helps absorb glucose, vitamins C, B5, and B7, and various minerals.
Additionally, salt transports digestive juices and bile to continue breaking down food in the small intestine. The bile acids absorb fats and vitamins A, D, E, and K.
Sodium also moves substances like hormones, toxins, and nutrients around the body.
For example, sodium helps disperse creatine. Athletes often use creatine to build strength and muscle mass, but studies show it may also alleviate depression in women, Mr. Masterjohn said. Furthermore, creatine provides energy to produce stomach acid, maintain healthy skin, facilitate wound healing, enable light processing in the eyes, and power sperm motility during fertilization, he added.
Low Salt, Low Energy
Low energy and lethargy are the most common symptoms of inadequate salt intake, Dr. Melina Roberts, a licensed naturopathic physician, told The Epoch Times. “I had a patient that had extremely low energy and would pass out frequently for unknown reasons. They were unable to do any activity.”After extensive testing and reviewing the patient’s diet, Dr. Roberts believed more salt was needed. She had the patient increase salt intake, which “dramatically improved” the patient’s energy levels.
The reasons low salt causes fatigue are complex, but some researchers link it to electrolyte imbalance. Electrolytes like sodium and potassium are vital for homeostasis. Though fluctuating to meet the body’s needs, an imbalance can occur if salt intake is too low.
Moderately High Intake May Slow Neurodegeneration
A high-salt diet suppressed demyelination, a symptom of neurodegenerative diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS), a 2021 mice study found. Myelin is a protective sheath around brain and spinal nerves. Demyelination delays nerve signals, causing neurological problems.The researchers note those earlier studies used an MS model that differs substantially from real MS regarding disease onset.
Salt and Blood Pressure: Is the Link Overstated?
A pressing question remains: Isn’t salt unhealthy because it raises blood pressure? According to some experts, the answer is no.Our understanding of salt is misguided, James DiNicolantonio, a cardiovascular research scientist and doctor of pharmacy, told The Epoch Times. Studies linking salt to high blood pressure often track processed food intake, too, he added. “So is it the salt? Or is it the processed food and salt that happens to come along?”
In contrast, hypertension is a rare occurrence in numerous population studies with low processed food consumption but high salt intake.
“That’s because when you don’t get enough salt, there’s nothing the body can do to get more because it can’t make it,” he said. Whereas, if you get too much salt, you simply urinate out what you don’t need, he added.
Skip the Table Salt for Healthier Alternatives
Salt quality varies, Mr. Masterjohn said. “Conventional commercial salt is missing many important trace minerals and has anti-caking agents that many health conscious people prefer to avoid, but also has iodine added.”Natural sea salts have more trace minerals and are better options, he said.
“People who cut out processed foods could run a serious risk of sodium deficiency if they do not add salt to their food,” Mr. Masterjohn added, noting that athletes, those in warm climates, caffeine drinkers, and people on diuretics have higher sodium needs.
