Salt - Bad or Not?

[cbrenthus]

I thought I would start a differnt thread on salt, because we started discussing it a bit in the tortilla thread.

Alot of people think salt is bad. I recently saw an article on salty foods becoming the next big thing, like trans fats recently and stuff. But I don't think that salt itself is the problem, I think it is excessive salt and lack of water.

I think that most people don't drink nearly enough water, and as a result aren't flushing the salt out of their system quite enough. Also, if you are dehydrated the same amount of salt would be at a higher concentration in your fluids than if you're not well hydrated.

As for exessive salt, snacking on chips and pretzels is overdone by alot of people. I have also seen people dump a shitload of extra salt over everything they eat.



So, basically, my theory is that if you are eating healthy and drinking at least 8-10 glasses of water a day, you don't really need to worry about salt.

Thoughts?

[deftones156]

I would say that you are pretty much correct. As long as you're not adding salt to too many things, or as long as you don't have high blood pressure you'll probalby be okay.

The key to eating well? All things in moderation.

[cbrenthus]

Originally Posted by deftones156

I would say that you are pretty much correct. As long as you're not adding salt to too many things, or as long as you don't have high blood pressure you'll probalby be okay.

The key to eating well? All things in moderation.

I will say that I only know one person that I know for sure has high blood pressure, and everytime I'm at a restaurant with him the first thing he does when his food comes is dump salt all over it. On top of that he drinks alot of beer and liquor.

I've also personally noticed that if I don't drink enough water, my blood pressure seems to be higher when I work out.

I guess that my thoery is that it is a high concentration of salt in your system that is bad, which is caused by exessive salt consumption or dehydration.

[coronadozx]

my understanding, too much salt doesn't necessarily cause high blood pressure. you guys kind of hit the nail on the head ... the lack of healthy activities is the bigger cause.

once you have high blood pressure (from lack of regular exercise, poor diet, too much alcohol, etc.) then adding salt and eating salty and further fatty foods is dangerous.

deftones is right on ... everything in moderation.

[Goin Ape Nutz]

too much salt in the blood draws fluids from the interstitial spaces outside of your cells and brings it into the blood stream, raising your blood pressure. That is why too much salt is dangerous.

**EDIT** I was digressing, to answer the question more specifically, too much salt is bad for a variety of reasons, from raising pressure in the arteries which can damage the inside lining and muscles around the arteries. This is especially so for people with diagnosed hypertension (high blood pressure). Health individuals should watch their salt intake as well, because they can avoid the above listed damage (not to mention the affects on the kidneys). Drinking water facilitates the secretion of salt from the body... so keep up the water drinking

[coronadozx]

interstitial? dam ... that's a word i hadn't even thought of for 5 1/2 years!

[Goin Ape Nutz]

Originally Posted by coronadozx

interstitial? dam ... that's a word i hadn't even thought of for 5 1/2 years!

shorter than saying the fluid filled space between the cells outside of the capillaries.

[binx_19]

basically if you eat healthy, you have no issues, drink water regularly.
if you are fat and lazy salt is bad for you.
if you are in denial, salt is bad for you.

[coronadozx]

Originally Posted by Goin Ape Nutz

shorter than saying the fluid filled space between the cells outside of the capillaries.

ugh stop it!!!! i'm starting to feel like i'm still in exercise phys class! which might not be too bad, i had a money prof ... about 5 feet tall and a milf. her first name was bonita, no kidding.