Cindy Hamilton wrote:
> OKrypsis > wrote:
>
>> The westernised diet is a "redefinition" of normal. What is "normal" is
>> what our body is genetically equipped to cope with. Salt laden processed
>> foods do not constitute a "normal" diet for humans regardless of whether
>> you think it is. Fresh fruit, vegetables and meat, untainted with salt,
>> is a normal and natural diet for us. Sure, our taste buds adapt to the
>> higher salt levels but our body, in general, does not. If you drop down
>> to a natural diet, a raft of modern day health problems disappear.

Nearly any approach to paleolithic or organic or low carb or high veggie
eating is better than what most people eat, even the ones who think they
are eating well. But low salt is not automatically a part of that.

> For most people, eating salt isn't a problem. Just over half of hypertensive
> people are salt-sensitive; about 26% of non-hypertensives are salt-sensitive.
> Almost 1/3 of the population has hypertension. So, if I've done the math,
> and if the figures I googled are correct, about 2/3 of the entire population is
> not salt sensitive.

Most Americans eat far more salt than is necessary, but the human body
is evolved to eject excess salt. If you want to take evolution into
account as a way to figure out what a "normal" human diet is you need to
take into account hunter gatherer stone age societies that eat mostly
meat and freshly gathered plants, but you also need to consider the
"aquatic ape" theory that would explain why our bodies eject so much
salt. It seems likely that human ancestors lived on the beach so long
we evolved that salt ejecting mechanism. Avoiding salt is not as
beneficial as the news claims. Taking plenty of water to flush it out
and eating foods that don't cause water retention in the first place
works better.

Once I read about the potassium in sea water I figured we should put
"lite salt" on the table at home. It sorta balances the potassium free
table salt used outside of home. Before doing that there are cautions
involved though.