| The Weston A. Price Foundation | Press Contact: Kimberly Hartke, Publicist |
| For Immediate Release |
FDA WARNED ON DANGERS OF SALT RESTRICTION
Weston A. Price Foundation Nutrition Education Non-Profit Files Comments
January 24, 2012–Washington, DC–The Weston A. Price Foundation (WAPF) has warned the FDA that plans for salt restriction pose a health threat to Americans of all ages, in comments submitted to the agency yesterday.
The Weston A. Price Foundation is a non-profit nutrition education foundation dedicated to accurate scientific information about diet and health. Last year, WAPF led the criticism of USDA 2010 dietary guidelines.
WAPF noted that by entitling their document “Approaches to Reducing Sodium Consumption,” the FDA has signaled that it has already decided that Americans’ sodium consumption should be reduced. But neither history nor the scientific evidence support this approach.
“A study from 1991 indicates that people need about one and one-half teaspoons of salt per day,” says Sally Fallon Morell, president of the Weston A. Price Foundation. “Anything less triggers a cascade of hormones to recuperate sodium from the waste stream, hormones that make people vulnerable to heart disease and kidney problems. This is proven biochemistry. Yet, FDA as well as USDA want to mandate drastically restricted sodium consumption at about one-half teaspoon per day.”
WAPF testimony noted that salt plays a critical role in body physiology and brain function. In the elderly, lack of salt is associated with increased hip fractures and cognitive decline; low salt diets in growing children predisposes to poor neurological development.
Proposals to restrict salt cite benefits to hypertension. But only 30 percent of the population experiences a slight reduction in blood pressure on a salt restricted diet, while 70 percent show no benefit.
“These statistics don’t justify a population-wide policy of salt reduction,” says Fallon Morell
Recent studies show a correlation of salt restriction with increased heart failure and with insulin resistance leading to diabetes. Studies show that even modest reductions in salt cause an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Higher incidence of inflammatory markers and altered lipoproteins are also found by researchers evaluating those on salt reduced diets. These factors are precursors to metabolic syndrome, which predicts heart problems and diabetes.
Both sodium and chloride, the components of salt, are needed for digestion. These elements form the basis of cellular metabolism and our only source of adequate intake is salt.
The Foundation also cautions the FDA that salt reductions will increase food safety risks. Salt is a traditional food preservation medium with an excellent track record. Artisan cheeses, preserved meats like salami and traditional pickled foods like sauerkraut require salt to prevent contamination by pathogens.
“Our biggest concern is that with FDA dictates against salt, manufacturers will add imitation salt flavors like Senomyx to processed foods,” says Fallon Morell. “Marketed as a food, so it does not require testing, and added in amounts so small that is does not need to be labeled, this neurotropic compound can interfere with our natural taste for salt, leading to severe deficiencies. Or, people will become obese as they eat more and more, trying to satisfy the body’s need for salt.”
The Weston A. Price Foundation fully referenced commentary is posted at https://westonaprice.org/wp-content/uploads/wapf-comments-fda-salt.pdf.
Weston A. Price Foundation is a 501c3 nutrition education non-profit. www.westonaprice.org
To interview an expert on this issue, contact : Kimberly Hartke, press@westonaprice.org
URL of Press Release on Wire Service: http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/news.html?d=243574
Full Text of Comments: https://westonaprice.org/wp-content/uploads/wapf-comments-fda-salt.pdf
Wise Traditions Journal article On Senomyx: http://www.westonaprice.org/modern-foods/senomyx
Videos of Press Conference Critique of Salt Recommendations:
http://youtu.be/5ex0vaghmyw
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Some years ago, I had such a bad attack of menieres that I had to be hospitalized for five days.I was connected to an intravenous machine. My electrolyte levels were way too low. It is not a very pleasant thing to have menieres.
A few years later I had another attack and the doctor noticed low blood pressure and recommended I increase my salt intake. I mentioned I had heard on the radio that it is 9% o the adult population does indeed have to watch their salt intake,not the entire adult population. I also consulted the book Lets Eat Right to Keep Fit by Adelle Davis and the book concurred with what the doctor recommended.Okay this is only anecdotal, but fact is that since then I have only had the odd mild attack that did not last more than one night. That is a fact.
I have not been able to find any data on the percentage of adults with hypo-tension but anecdotally it does not seem to be that uncommon.
As a teenager I had all the symptoms of hypo-tension but it went unnoticed. I did badly at school despite having a high IQ. These days I am far more switched on when comes to doing courses and exams.