Health Institute Questions Recommendations on Salt Intake

Doesn't think demands to consume less are supported by science

An unusual medical brawl erupted on Tuesday when the influential Institute of Medicine issued a report questioning the basis of years of advice for Americans to cut their salt intake in half.

The Institute, which advises the federal government on medical issues, concluded that the studies have answered the question poorly.  A panel of experts looked at studies showing the medical effects of eating too much salt, as well as at studies that have been used to suggest that some people may suffer form eating too little salt.

Its finding: There's enough evidence to support advising Americans to keep sodium to 2,300 milligrams a day or less, but there's not enough to support the current, lower target of 1,500 milligrams a day.

Comments

[Sevo]

..."there's not enough to support the current, lower target of 1,500 milligrams a day."

I have memories of hospital food and they thought the target was ZERO.

[Lord Humungus]

heh - after I I grab the salt shaker, my parents always look at me like I'm going to keel over from a heart attack. "Watch your blood pressure" they tell me. When I tell them of the studies that don't link salt intake, they just say "That's not true!"

mine is 110/60 btw - all from eating lovely bacon, steak, chicken, cheese, and high-fat dressings on my salads.