5 Salt Myths Debunked — See the Facts Here!

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Salt has received a lot of flak, with some people believing that eating food containing salt can increase one's chances of developing heart disease. It is time to debunk some of the common myths for better food choices.

Myth 1: Sea salt is healthier than table salt

Cleveland Clinic says both types of salts contain the same amount of sodium. Although sea salt is less processed, in terms of sodium content, both are essentially the same.

Table salt is not all bad.

It contains iodine, a mineral necessary for keeping the thyroid healthy. Sprinkling table salt reduces your chances of developing goiter, a condition affecting the thyroid gland.

Myth 2: Salt causes high blood pressure

According to Men's Health this myth may have originated from a 1940s study which recommended that salt be reduced for people with high blood pressure. Other studies indicate that there is no reason for healthy people to reduce their consumption of sodium.

The source says that individuals with high blood pressure are sensitive to salt. Reducing the amount of salt in the diet would be recommended.

An alternative is to increase the amount of potassium in the diet. This would balance out the effects of salt in the body.

Foods rich in potassium include white potatoes, beans, bananas, broccoli and spinach.

Myth 3: Salt has no health benefits

Your body needs salt. Mercola says salt has several uses including:

• Carrying nutrients between cells
• Regulating blood pressure
• Allowing your brain to send messages to your muscles
• Encourage the produce of glial cells which are needed for brain function

Depending on your age and health, Food Republic says your body needs approximately 1,500mg to 2,300mg of salt a day. As a guideline, Fremont Health says half a teaspoon of salt contains 1,200mg of sodium.

Myth 4: Salt-less foods have no taste

Other than salt, there are other ways of putting flavor into food, Go Red For Women says. The Cleveland Clinic recommends using other spices and herbs.

Spices and herbs do not contain salt and have numerous health benefits including reducing inflammation in the body.

Myth 5: Sodium is only found in salty food

According to Go Red For Women, sodium is not just found in processed foods. There is also sodium in everyday foods such as cheese, bread and poultry.

High levels of sodium can also be found in a number of over-the-counter drugs. Fremont Health recommends looking out for sodium on the label.