The gentlebirth.org website is provided courtesy of
Ronnie Falcao, LM MS, a homebirth midwife in Mountain View, CA

Moderate Sodium Intake Necessary for Good Health

From: C-upi@clari.net (UPI / LIDIA WASOWICZ, UPI Science Writer)
Subject: Salt not as deadly as thought
Organization: Copyright 1997 by United Press International
Date: Fri, 30 May 1997 15:22:01 PDT

A Canadian researcher says Friday an analysis of 56 studies shows that sodium intake does not have an effect on a healthy person's blood pressure and, in fact, is needed in moderate amounts to maintain good health.

Dr. Alexander Logan of Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto made his presentation -- sure to stir controversy -- at the Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Society of Hypertension in San Francisco.

Logan cited numerous studies that fail to support the long-held contention that an abundance of salt causes blood pressure to rise over the years. Some studies show that salt starvation fails to lower blood pressure. And others show that too little sodium can have adverse health consequences such as nutritional deficiencies, especially in calcium, and even an increase in the so-called ``bad'' cholesterol.

A 20-year study of 144 nuns in Italy shows no link between sodium intake and hypertension in healthy people. Another study shows salt restriction has no effect on systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Other studies show a decrease in blood pressure despite a constant intake of sodium, meaning something else was at work, such as anti- hypertension drugs.

Logan says there's no evidence that a universal abstention from salt improves health or prevents hypertension in healthy people or otherwise benefits their well-being.

The researcher, however, cautions the role of salt in hypertension remains controversial and the results apply to healthy people using salt in moderation. He says those with high blood pressure should still curtail their use of sodium and no one should excessively pour on the flavor enhancer.