It has been believed for years that salt is the enemy of good health. Blamed for high blood pressure, heart disease, and a host of other issues. It’s the first thing people try to cut when they want to eat healthier. But does salt really deserve all this negativity? Or is it time to rethink being scared of salt and rewrite the narrative about this essential mineral?
Salt’s reputation took a hit decades ago when studies linked high sodium intake to hypertension (aka high blood pressure), which can lead to heart problems. This led health organisations to recommend strict sodium limits – 2,300 mg a day, or even as low as 1,500mg for those at risk. Food companies jumped on board, rolling out low-sodium everything, and suddenly, salt became something to fear.
But here’s the thing – while too much salt isn’t great for your health, the full story is more complicated. For starters, our bodies need sodium to function properly – it helps with nerve signals, muscle movement, and crucially, keeping fluids balanced. Not getting enough can leave you feeling weak, dizzy, or worse.
And guess what? New research suggests that the salt-hypertension link isn’t as straightforward as we once thought. Some people are more sensitive to salt than others, meaning that while cutting back might help some, others may not need to worry as much. Plus, going too low on sodium has its own risks, like increasing insulin resistance and even heart issues in some cases.
Adding salt to your food or cooking or taking an electrolyte supplement is not the culprit of having “too much salt”. The major issue isn’t even salt itself, but the quality of salt, where it comes from and how processed it is. A lot of the sodium we consume comes from processed and packaged food. Things like canned foods, fast food, and ultra-processed snacks. These ultra-processed foods are loaded with hidden sodium, along with preservatives and other additives that aren’t doing your health any favours.
Rather than fearing salt, the focus should be on eating fresh, whole foods and sourcing quality salt complete with its original elements such as magnesium, potassium, calcium, iodine, boron, manganese and many more. If most of your meals come from real, unprocessed ingredients then adding good salt and an electrolyte supplement (our favourite is Sodii) into your diet can actually be super beneficial for your health, particularly if you exercise often, use a sauna, hot yoga or have frequent sweaty pursuits!
It’s ultimately about finding balance, like most things in nutrition and your health. Salt isn’t an evil ingredient – it’s essential for our bodies. The real issue is over-relying on ultra processed foods and going overboard with sodium-packed convenience meals.
For those who need an extra hydration boost, especially athletes or individuals with high activity levels, supplements like Sodii can help replenish essential electrolytes while maintaining the right balance of sodium in the body. Instead of avoiding salt altogether, focusing on smarter sodium sources can support overall well-being.
So, the next time someone tells you salt is bad, you can confidently say, “It’s all about source!”
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