Getting salty over health

Body's chemical reactions are giving clues to fighting disease

- SYN KRONOS

WHEN we think of their health, we are told that too much salt is bad for us. What is 'too much' exactly, and are there any health benefits of a reasonable salt intake?

Table salt, also known as sodium chloride, is consumed the world over in vast quantities. Take Japan, for example, where an individual consumes on average 11.7 grams per day; in the U.S. 9.6 grams and in the UK, 8.6 grams respectively. The recommended salt intake is six grams per day, which is less than what is added to a white loaf of bread; a brown loaf tends to have double that quantity.

Salt has been linked to high blood pressure, known as hypertension, but yet if we look at Japan - where there is an average life expectancy of 85 years - it is ranked way down at 183 in the world for hypertension. The UK and U.S. have significantly higher death rates attributed to hypertension, and so we should question the validity of salt being a cause.

Salt is absolutely vital for the body's processes. In fact, it is essential for the functioning of our nervous system, for controlling fluid balance, and for our muscles to operate. Excess salt is passed from our bodies by urination and sweating. It is also why we get thirsty when we have eaten something salty.