My patients always give me quizzical looks when I tell them they need to increase their salt intake. You see, I have been checking salt levels on nearly every patient that has ever seen me. My experience has clearly shown that most patients do not consume enough salt. I know you are probably thinking that you read that last sentence incorrectly. We have been conditioned to think that we should eat less salt. The powers-that-be routinely release edicts stating that we need to eat less salt in order to be healthier and have less hypertension. However, that last statement is just not true. Eating less salt will not make us healthier and not lower the risk for hypertension.
I have been writing about the importance of salt for well over fifteen years. Salt is the second major constituent in our body, next to water. We need adequate amounts of good salt in our diet to run hundreds of different biochemical pathways.
Does salt cause blood pressure problems? The vast majority of people do not see any appreciable blood pressure lowering when they lower their salt intake. I quote many studies in my salt book which show the fallacy of lowering salt intake to lower blood pressure. There are a few individuals who are salt sensitive, but they are few and far between.
In conventional medicine, salt consists of two ions, sodium and chloride. Refined salt is 99% sodium and chloride with toxic additives such as ferrocyanide and aluminum added to it. Unrefined salt is a better choice for salt because it contains essential minerals that are absent in refined salt products. Examples of good sources of unrefined salt include Celtic Brand Sea Salt, Redmond’s Real Salt, and Himalayan Salt.
This blog post was written in response to recent article titled, “Serum chloride is an independent predictor of mortality in hypertensive patients.” (1) The authors of this article analyzed nearly 13,000 hypertensive individuals and followed them for up to 35 years. They found the lowest intake of chloride (<100 mEq/L) was associated with a 20% higher mortality rate. A 1mEq/L increase in chloride was associated with a 1.5% reduction in all-cause mortality. The authors conclude, “Low, not high serum chloride is associated with greater mortality risk…”
Chloride is an essential nutrient in our body. We cannot live without it. What is the best food source for chloride? You guessed it– it is salt. Should we eat refined salt? That answer is easy–no. It is best to use unrefined salt as part of a healthy dietary regimen. For most patients, at least one teaspoon per day of unrefined salt is necessary to supply the body with the optimal amounts of sodium, chloride and minerals. If you have kidney failure, be cautious about increasing your salt intake. More information about salt can be found in my book, Salt Your Way to Health.
(1) Hypertension. September 9, 2013
Hi Dr Brownstein,
I was probably using more than 2 tsps of Celtic salt per day. Started feeling a little weird so did some research. Can Celtic salt deplete potassium and magnesium in your body? Had heart palps, and anxiety. Once I ate more bananas and used transdermal magnesium I felt better. Could that have resulted from too much salt? Thank you for reaching out to us and the medical community.
Naomi,
I doubt that Celtic salt could cause a magnesium or potassium deficiency as it contains both of these nutrients.
DrB
Dr Brownstein,
Thanks for your article. My mom is suffering from hypertension. And all of my family members believe that we should lower salt intake. However now I realize that we should change from refined salt to unrefined salt in our meal.
How much salt do you consume Dr Brownstein?
Kristen,
I consume at least 2tsp/day of unrefined salt.
DrB
Does Himalayan salt have iodine/iodide? I begged my doctor to do an iodine deficiency test and to his surprise I was deficient! It was a blood test, not urine, but my number was 45 and the low end of the normal range is 52. I am taking 12.5 mg of iodine a day but wonder if the Himalayan salt would add some iodine as well. Love your books and agree that it is hard to find doctors that know about iodine deficiency. They all say, “Not in this country”. Bah! Keep up the good fight!
I have used Himalayan salt for 2 year now and before that sea salt. I just feel safe taking this. My blood work 9-25-2013 for Chloride is 101. The range used is 98-110 mMol/L. Some say I sure use way to much salt, just because I add it to my food when needed. I bought my adult kids a large container of this salt too!
I love this salt! Thank you for the info Dr B!
Dr Brownstein,
Thank for sharing this important message.
Unfortunately, many people believe that salt is no good for their health. As there are many misleading information about salt, it is essential to point out what kind of salt is the right one.
I personally use Himalayan salt!
All the best
I have use Himalayan Salt for some time and it is great. It cost somewhat more but all worth it. I have noticed on the shelves at the store processed foods, like beans, vegetables, and other caned products, and the amount of salt in them. They can average from 200 mg to 1000 mg preserving. This is what is killing American people. I personally buy canned goods that are “NO SALT ADDED” Himalayan salt. Your pizza and other pre-processed foods are high in salt, they use it as a cheap filler and also, it acts as a drug making you crave their product. If I use Himalayan salt I have no problem, if I mess up and use processed salt my legs swell up. I believe this Doctor and you should too, He is among the few who really know about salt. He has warned you, beware of eating processed salt. The salt he recommends is priced much higher but your health is worth it, I’m 71.
I’ve been saying for years that salt is not the enemy. The way I see it is that the human body is electrochemical and salt is what makes the current. Without salt our bodies do not function correctly and the synapse of the brain fail fire correctly. This may be an explanation for dementia as we age. I’m not a medical professional, but this has always seemed to be common sense to me.
I would love to know if my way of thinking about salt is correct. I use Jurassic Salt. This salt has been in the earth since the time of the dinosaurs and is loaded with minerals.
You go Mike!!! You are right on the money.
DrB
I have read 2 of your books with regard to the thyroid and iodine. The problem I am having is locating a physician that follows the principals of your research. Without a physician willing to at least listen, putting your books valuable information to good use will never be an option. Is there a list where others like myself may go to find a dr. to work with us?
Diane,
I agree, finding an iodine-knowledgeable health care provider can be difficult. You could try contacting a local compounding pharmacist–they usually know the holistic docs in their area. Also, you can go to: http://www.acam.org. It is a holistic group I belong to. Although being on ACAM’s website is not a guarantee that the doc will be iodine-literate, it is a start. Also, look for local chiropractors who practice holistic medicine.
Good luck,
DrB
Hi – I’m a patient at the CHM, and on Dr. B’s. advice, my family takes Celtic sea salt and uses it in our cooking. Pretty quickly after starting on it, my cousin’s swelling in her legs went away completely AND she stopped taking diuretics. Thanks for emphasizing its importance… maybe others will read the patient testimonies and be able to make educated choices.
” Bravo ” Dr. Brownstein!
My husband and I are in the health profession and personally consume the Celtic sea salt. We have been preaching how important salt intake is for years. Some listen but unfortunately, too many turn a deaf ear. Our society is easily lured into false information and many adhere simply out of ignorance or convenience.
We applaud you for all your valuable information in promoting good health. Keep up the good work!
God Bless . . .