No one likes to say, “I told you so”. Well, maybe sometimes we do.
I have been prescribing and recommending unrefined salt to my patients for nearly 20 years. My analysis of thousands of blood tests continue to show that most patients are salt deficient. Yes, you read that correctly—patients generally need more salt in their diet!
How can that be? We have all been brainwashed that salt is bad for us—that it causes hypertension, strokes and heart attacks. In fact, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) releases ridiculous yearly edicts about how we need to limit our salt intake. The IOM states that the adequate intake level of salt is 1,200-1,500mg/day (less than ½ teaspoon) and the tolerable upper limit of salt at 2,300mg/day (about 2/3 of a teaspoon of salt). The message from the IOM and the other Powers-That-Be is that a lower salt intake is always better.
How wrong can they be.
Salt is the second most common constituent in the body, next to water. We cannot live without adequate amounts of salt in the diet. A study published April 2, 2014 (1) found that current IOM salt guidelines are too low. In fact, the researchers reported that following the IOM guidelines results in an increased risk of death. In fact, there was a 14% decline in all-cause mortality in the population consuming the average U.S. salt intake versus those consuming the IOM’s salt intake recommendations.
Can you take too much salt? Of course you can. This study found that salt ingestion above 12,000mg (about 3.5tsp was associated with increased mortality from heart disease.
Remember, this study focused on refined salt. Refined salt does provide essential elements for the body—sodium and chloride—but lacks minerals. Refined salt is also contaminated with toxic additives such as ferrocyanide and aluminum.
Unrefined salt should be the salt of choice. It has over 80 minerals in it which are necessary elements for the body. It does not contain toxic additives like ferrocyanide.
Adequate amounts of salt are necessary for thyroid and adrenal function. One of the most common causes of adrenal fatigue is a lack of salt. Fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, and other chronic illnesses characterized by fatigue often respond favorably to increasing the salt intake. Most patients do well with ingesting 1-2tsp of unrefined salt per day.
So, the next time you see a recommendation by the Powers-That-Be to lower you salt intake, do the next best thing: fugetaboutit.
One final note: If you have abnormal kidney function, you may not be able to increase your salt intake.
More information about the importance of salt can be found in my book, Salt Your Way to Health.
- Am. J. of Hypertension. 2014. Dio:10.1093/ajh/hpu028
Thank you, Doctor!
I am not sure what is going on with my thyroid at all! Three y ago developed symptoms of ?fibromyalgia and/or thyroid with normal thyroid tests. Year after had amalgam removal not knowing anything about safe removal. One month after developed ?transient hyperthyroidism with very low TSH and increased T3 and T4 and after a month my TSH was out of range (5.5-6.5), and stayed like that till today. I continued losing weight for year after even with TSH higher than normal (few times it returned to normal and than to 6.5 or higher again, never more than 8). I have tested my urine for iodine, got once severe iodine deficiency and more times moderate. I am not sure if they were correct (spot ones) as nobody explained what to do prior the test. No positive antibodies so far and no T3 and T4, reverse T3 out of range for 2 years. Just recently I realised I do not lose weight so easily, have itchiness, constipation and feeling hot. I am not on any supplements by my choice.
I am absolutely obsessed with natural healing, healthy food, gluten, sugar free, eating Paleo, good fat, digestive aid, enzymes etc. I am reading everything it could help me to educate myself and followed Thyroid Summit, your and other Dr’s web sites. Our doctors in Australia are hopeless!
My questions are:
Is it a picture of autoimmune thyroid problem? Hashimoto or Graves or both or it could be due to iodine deficiency??
I tried iodine on an empty stomach in the morning or during the day (sea weed form) with 3-4 Brazil nuts and then I felt hot, boiling all afternoon.
Am I right not to take any thyroid hormone supplements while my thyroid fluctuates or until it is persistently 10 or more. Not sure what bothers it?
Would I damage my thyroid more if I wait longer to take any hormone supplement? And what about iodine intake, other tests you recommend me to do?
Dear doctor please advise! Many thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I
Dr. Brownstein,
I am the same as Claire. I avoided salt for years and ended up with hypothyroidism. I now need iodine to add to my diet. I have seen your info about iodine loading test. Could you please let me know if it is safe. I am afraid it will be a huge shock for my suffering thyroid to get 50 mg so suddenly. Is there any serious side effect?
Your response would be much appreciated.
Jasna,
Along with my partners, I have done a lot of iodine loading tests. We have not seen problems with taking 50mg of iodine for a loading test.
DrB
I love saying “I told you so” … this has been my experience over the years w/allopathic doctors! Not that I enjoy being right (well, maybe a little) but I find it insulting that most mainstream doctors will not dialogue with me; they simply state their opinion and expect me to go along and not question. Fortunately for me, I research everything to death and learned long ago what works best for me and my family. Thanks, Dr. Brownstein, for sharing all your experiences and insight; it is much appreciated.
Oh, come now, doctor! It is very profitable to tell people to reduce their salt intake.
You know, one thing I found living in the desert was that if I got a little depleted, a mug of warm water mixed until it’s like a broth with unrefined sea salt, would perk me up, rehydrate me, and prevent a WHOLE lot of cravings for salty snacks. Not to mention that being less thirsty makes one less inclined to slurp vast quantities of soda.
Which is not a good thing for certain industries, is it? Keep people starved for salt, and you can sell way more chips and crackers and buckets of soda, to be followed by the appropriate meds related to that sort of diet. Cha-ching!
Lord, I think I’m getting a little cynical.
Dr. Brownstein,
Is it true that some medications like Prozac contain fluoride on them ?
I would love to hear your thoughts about that.
Thanks.
Marcus,
Unfortunately, it is true. Prozac and Ciprofloxacin are two examples. Medications can also have bromine as part of their chemical structure. No medicine should have a toxic halide as part of its chemical makeup.
DrB
Dr. Brownstein,
As usual, you are “right on target”. Thank you for reminding me to increase my intake which I have.
I keep your salt stored in a glass seal proof little bowl and continue to add to my salads!
Love your blog!]
Judy
Thank You, Doctor!
As for iodine, thanks to You I do take enough of it! As for fluoride, I was just listening to Nora Gedgaudas who told that the pineal gland (which doesn’t even have a share of the blood-brain barrier) tends to bind fluoride more than maybe all the other organs in the body, and this sinister mineral may even cause it to calcify…
Good luck (without flouride),
Laszlo
Dr.B ~ What salt would you recommend for daily use?Any particular company? What do YOU use? Thank you for all you share with us.
flower
Dear Flower,
I use both Selena’s Celtic Brand Sea Salt (from Grain and Salt Society) and Redmond’s Real Salt. Both are good forms of unrefined salt.
DrB
Another great post! Thank You, doctor! And I have a question: According to the sources I have found, Himalayan salt has a 0.4% bromide and 231ppm fluoride content, and one type of Celtic Sea Salt (Flower of the Ocean) has 349 ppm bromide in it. Are these concentrations harmful, or the adverse effects of these halides on the body are cancelled out by the amount of sodium packed with them?
http://poisonfluoride.com/pfpc/fluoride_Aromalife.htm
http://www.dowsers.com/Celtic%20Sea%20Salt%20Analysis.pdf
All the best,
Laszlo
Laszlo,
Good question. As for fluoride, it is the most electronegative and toxic halide. It should be limited/avoided. As for bromide, the ocean does contain bromide and you will get some bromide in ocean-based salt products like Celtic Brand salt. However, if you are taking enough iodine, I think the bromide should easily be eliminated. The fluoride is not so easy as the body ties it up in the bones. So, what is the best solution? Keep fluoride out of your diet (as best you can) and maintain optimal iodine levels.
DrB
Stupid question: How do I know if the salt I’m buying is unrefined? If it’s grainy like sand is it automatically refined?
Good question, John. Generally, if it can fit through the small salt shakers and is pure white, you can probably assume that it has been refined. Unrefined salt should have a little color in it which reflects the mineral content.
DrB
I cannot agree more. I have personally experienced, while I feel tired after a physical activity, I drink water adding sea salt and a slice of lemon, and after a short period of time, I feel fresh and the tiredness has gone.
Since reading Dearth by Calcium, I’ve quit calcium supplementation, but ingesting your recommended amours of salt, even the flower of the ocean type, is challenging because I’ve read that salt can interfere with calcium metabolism. Please consider a public comment on that subject. Thank you.
Thanks for this Dr. Brownstein! As always your blogs are informative, cutting edge and inspiring. We have helped so many people discover the amazing health benefits of good salt (Celtic or Himalayan Sea salt) thanks to you and your wonderful books. Bless you for all you have done for humanity! Libby in Kalamazoo
I’m trying to share your health information with my friends and family in Ky…tough job, but I’m getting through.
http://www.today.com/video/today/54844515#54844515
A mainstream interview on NBC recommending 1-2 tsp of salt (2,645-4,945 mg) for health people (no kidney disease, hypertension, etc.).
Hi Dr Brownstein,
Thanks for your posts – always informative! We still have your “Salt Your Way to Health” recorded webinar archived on our website at http://www.agribestfeeds.com/resources/archived-webinars/ There are over 15,000 views to date!
Thanks,
Scott
Yay!
I agree about salt intake. As a young person I tried to eat a ‘healthy diet’ but was deprived of nutrients, ended up w/ low thyroid function. Now, I take iodine, eat sea salt and have gone off gluten. The results are no more thyroid medication, no more low energy. Re: My husband, I am wondering if having slightly low thyroid as well as slightly low kidney function would require reducing salt intake in your opinion? Thanks for this informative blog 🙂
Claire,
The kidney’s reabsorb 99% of ingested salt. The only people that need to worry about salt intake are those in renal failure. Discuss this with your doctor.
DrB