Salt has long been thought to contribute to heart disease and high blood pressure, but recent evidence shows that the balance of potassium and salt is far more important than salt intake alone. Some studies suggest that individuals who solely focus on eating a low-sodium diet actually have worse outcomes, possibly due to the fact that low-sodium processed foods often contain harmful additives like monosodium glutamate. It may be helpful to your health to focus on eating a natural, potassium rich diet, rather than just a low-sodium one.
Key Takeaways:
- Since a balance of potassium and sodium is a crucial part of the body’s chemistry, it’s actually misleading to assume all salt is bad for you.
- In fact, when companies lower, or eliminate sodium from their food items, they often incorporate MSG, which has far worse effects on the body.
- MSG is believed to aggravate weight gain and potentially damage numerous organs in the human body.
“The theory that salt is bad for you and contributes to high blood pressure and heart disease is an idea that has become more or less cemented as dogma.”