THE AMERICAN COUNCIL ON SCIENCE AND HEALTH has a report, "Sodium restriction may hurt, not help, cardiac patients" that you should read. It turns out that a low-sodium diet is dangerous to your health — even if you're not a cardiac patient.
For instance, a study published last year in JAMA found that, among nearly 30,000 patients with cardiovascular disease or diabetes who were followed for over four years, those who consumed less than 3,000 mg of sodium per day were at a significantly increased risk of cardiovascular events. Considering that the official U.S. dietary guidelines are even more restrictive than this — 2,300 mg of sodium per day for the average person, and only 1,500 mg per day for people over 51, African Americans, or those with other cardiovascular risk factors — this finding is cause for concern.
Check out the article, and the links within it, and enjoy those potato chips. Founded in 1978, ACSH is a consumer advocacy organization directed and advised by over 350 physicians, scientists and policy advisors. ACSH promotes the use of sound, peer-reviewed science in the formation of a full spectrum of public health policies, including those related to food, pharmaceuticals, environmental chemicals, lifestyle factors, consumer products and terrorism preparedness and response.
See Sourcewatch re ACSH:
ReplyDeleteRun by a libertarian and funded by industries such as Campbell Soup (salt lovers extraordinaire), it is not surprising they would take a single study and blow the results out of all proportion to the existing literature.
You really have your tinfoil hat screwed on a bit too tightly this time.