On Wed, 6 Jun 2012 18:06:07 +0000 (UTC), Doug Freyburger
wrote:

Dogman wrote:
" wrote:

Now it would seem to me that if the study shows that you can
lower blood pressure by 12 points in people with hypertension,
then you have in fact demonstrated that in can reduce
hypertension.

Of course it can. In certain people (people with severe hypertension,
for example). But for the vast majority of us, there's no reason to
restrict salt intake. In fact, it can actually cause problems for
those who do, as recent studies have shown.

Dr Atkins at one point said that the single most predictable result of
low carbing was reduced blood pressure. To me that means it happens
even more often than weight loss. It's also why I suggest to newbies
that they not worry about salt - Salt avoidance is a part of low fat
plans that is not needed on low carb plans. Newbies tend to bring it
with them not understanding where it came from in the first place.

Exactly.

He's essentially saying that for some of us, reducing sodium intake
might be prudent, but for the vast majority of us, it makes little
difference, and can actually cause problems - as recent studies have
shown.

Some people end up salt intolerant as they age. These people will have
benefitted from prior avoidance of excess salt. How to tell if you are
likely to become salt intolerant when you hit 60? Family history, wild
guess.

I've gone in the other direction, but not by much, as I've aged (but
then I used to weigh far more than I do today). When I wrestled and
played football in college (many moons ago), I'd eat salt tablets by
the handful. I have to make sure it doesn't go too low. "Low" being
defined as 90/60 (any or both numbers). I usually have a BP of
110-115/62-65. I can't imagine how feinting, or getting dizzy when
standing up too quickly, would ever be a good thing.

There is very little down side to avoiding excess salt. In the western
diet we get far more salt than we need. But this mostly argues against
salting your food without tasting it first and against eating fries at
fast food places. Not the same level as carefully orchestrated salt
avoidance.

Avoiding processed, refined and fast foods make it pretty hard to
consume too much sodium, IMO.

--
Dogman

"I have approximate answers and possible beliefs in different degrees of certainty
about different things, but I'm not absolutely sure of anything" - Richard Feynman