<\/p>\n
Is This White Crystal Really the Villain of Heart Disease, or Guilty by Association? <\/strong><\/p>\n
Among the combative disagreements, a few glimmers of hope sometimes emerge that nutritional experts may one day wave the white flag on the dietary wars. Recently, one was witnessed with the release of the 2015-2020<\/a> Dietary Guidelines regarding the former dietary villain, cholesterol. Although many former egg-lovers once again delighted in their omelets, there is still a long way to go in finding a common consensus in what entails a truly \u201chealthy diet.\u201d<\/p>\n
Recently, I listened to a podcast <\/a>that aimed to show the redeeming controversies of an essential nutrient that also has an unhealthy heart connection. But, should it?<\/p>\n
\nThe Controversy That Lies in the Salt Shaker<\/strong><\/p>\n
According to current guidelines by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention<\/a> (CDC) and the American Heart Association<\/a> (AHA), Americans should limit their salt intake to 2,300 mg, or 1 tsp, or less a day of salt. However, beyond the salt shaker, it is noted that the processed food diet is a major contributor to the excessive high levels of sodium in our diets.<\/p>\n
In a recent podcast<\/a> with researcher and physician, Dr. DiNicolantonio, salt was exalted. He had previously argued in Open Heart<\/a><\/em> journal that we have been pointing the finger on the wrong white crystal for heart harm, and that salt was an innocent bystander. This argument fueled the fire and headlines, such as Discover Magazine<\/a>\u2019s 2015 article \u201cSugar, Not Salt, Is the Real Dietary Villain.\u201d<\/p>\n
Some important take-aways in his conclusions included:<\/p>\n
Interesting, many studies do support that too little <\/em>salt is detrimental to health. However, as with any nutrient, the Goldilocks principle of just the right amount is advocated for. For salt, this is a \u201cJ-shaped curve.\u201d (1, <\/a>2<\/a>, 3<\/a>, 4<\/a>, 5<\/a>)\u00a0 In Nutrition Today<\/a><\/em>, the author summarizes this current research perspective:<\/p>\n
The Bottom Line and Take-Away<\/strong><\/p>\n
If you want to learn more about salt benefits, click here<\/a> for my latest blog.<\/p>\n
In the meantime time a breathe.<\/p>\n
All this dietary chaos can trigger stress!<\/p>\n
Thankfully, we have essential oils to modulate all the food craziness that can activate high blood pressure. Two of my favorite oils for heart health are ylang ylang oil<\/a> and bergamo<\/a>t essential oil. Read more on my database here.<\/a><\/p>\n
This material is for information purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prescribe for any illness. You should check with your doctor regarding implementing any new strategies into your wellness regime. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. (Affiliation link.<\/a>)<\/em><\/p>\n