Top 4 in Top 10 misunderstandings about nutrition.
Some misunderstandings stem from the truth. Studies have found a link between too much salt and high blood pressure, kidney damage, and an increased risk of cognitive decline.
Salt (sodium) is basically an important mineral for health. The problem is when you eat too much sodium and too little potassium (potassium).
Another problem is which food sources the salt comes from. The average North American consumes a large amount of processed food - meaning people who consume a lot of salt tend to consume unhealthy foods. Therefore, it is difficult to clearly distinguish the effects of salt from the effects of the entire diet. Except for people with salt-sensitive hypertension, the evidence supporting low sodium intake is not conclusive. To date, both high and very low salt levels have been linked to cardiovascular disease.
The Truth: Reducing salt is important for people with salt-sensitive hypertension. Eating too much salt will cause harm. But eating too little salt did not show a consistent benefit in clinical trials. Most people will benefit more from eating natural foods than to control their salt intake.