Why Low-Salt Diets Are Bad for You

[@chriskresser]

CORRECTION: The worldwide consumption of salt (3,500-7,000 mg/d) is actually between 1 and 1.25 teaspoons, not 1.5 to 3 teaspoons.

[@ivarkoedijker168]

Sodium or salt? 3,500 mg salt is 1,400 mg sodium. That seems to be quite low for the low end of average worldwide consumption.

[@JasonActualization]

Thoughts on potassium to sodium intake ratio?

[@jenghowtan5268]

Heart failure patients are also sensitive to both sodium and potassium intake. As high level of sodium in heart failure patients' blood will cause water retention problem and thus edema. On the other hand, potassium intake for heart failure patients also need to be monitored carefully as they will be prescribed potassium-sparing diuretic medicine. Too much potassium level in blood will lead to low heart rate and hypotension.

[@chriskresser]

That's true, but it's more common with potassium supplementation than it is with dietary potassium.

[@superdigestible]

Thank you for this video! The Salt Fix is a great book that gets into shifting this "too much salt is bad" paradigm as well. Really fascinating to see what the literature shows!

[@chriskresser]

Yes! That's a great book. Thanks for sharing.

[@devinflory5610]

This was fascinating! Your videos are always so good and illuminating.

[@chriskresser]

I'm so glad you're finding the videos helpful, Devin. Thanks for your comment.

[@sea_hous]

Exact opposite for me on a carnivore diet. I had to taper off salt (quality salt) and it's the reason I'm still alive. Highly inflammatory, for me at least.

[@chriskresser]

There is always individual variation. I mentioned some populations/situations in the video where salt restriction makes sense.

[@sali8701]

I love salt, but it makes my hands n feet swollen? Have tried a lot of different salts. Good ones too

[@YaYippieYeah]

People with high blood pressure can easily lower their blood pressure with limited salt intake. My went down from 135/90 to 120/80 consistently with limited salt intake.

[@chriskresser]

Only a subset of people with hypertension are sensitive to sodium and will see a decrease in blood pressure with salt restriction.

[@tonymaurice4157]

. Salt will give you inflammation heart problems stroke . Low salt or no salt at all is best but hard to follow

[@stevenwilliams1805]

That's insane, your body can't function without salt.

[@tonymaurice4157]

@@stevenwilliams1805 I don't even believe That you live with absolutely no salt.You have to get it at least from celery.

[@stevenwilliams1805]

@@tonymaurice4157 that statement isn't very clear. Are you saying it's possible to live without salt as long as you eat celery?

[@tonymaurice4157]

@@stevenwilliams1805 Celery is a natural sodium.It's very different than rock salt and sea salt

[@stevenwilliams1805]

@@tonymaurice4157 are you saying celery is the only essential sodium?

[@est1186]

Thank you! I love information & especially where there’s validation of the need of said, nutrient As a teen in the 80’s my dad developed a heart condition /heart attack (s) and all his doctors insisted on low salt. We did that way & I actually continued eating that way past my 20s, flash forward … . I developed a thyroid issue. There’s also that connection isn’t there w low salt? Many thanks!

[@chriskresser]

Thank you! I wish more people knew about this.

[@kelseysmith2211]

Curious about your thoughts on low salt diet for Ménières.

[@chriskresser]

I've seen mixed results with this in the few patients I've treated with Ménières. I think it depends on the person.

[@donaldhenig1186]

Chris, doesn't the type of salt matter? Sea salt Vs salty potato chips....

[@chriskresser]

It matters, but not in this context. Sea salt has trace minerals and is generally a better choice for that reason. But in terms of impact on metabolic, cardiovascular, and other disease, most of the studies don't differentiate.

[@lindathomas8111]

My husband has chf put on a 1000 MG of sodium per day ?? Is this too low

[@mikebullard101]

It's pretty much pointless quoting or relying on research that by its own admission is inconclusive due variables that make it impossible to know the cause of an outcome. I would suggest it's more efficient to look at evolution for guidance, in the absence of conclusive results. Would most humans ancestors living in Africa, or almost all land animals have had access to salt not naturally present in food? Unlikely. Almost all non-meats foods have only trace amounts of salt. That would suggest humans and most animals only need trace amounts of salt to be healthy.

[@andrekozionov1803]

How can 3.5-7 g of salt be equivalent to 1.5-3 teaspoons? 1 common teaspoon is about 6-7 g. Your teaspoon is 2.3 g.

[@chriskresser]

You're correct. It should be 1-1.25 teaspoons. Typo in the notes and I missed it! I'll update shortly.

[@AndyKrafft]

Big fan of LMNT! Stay salty 👍