Too Much Salt Or Not Enough Real Food?

Salt contains sodium, a mineral necessary for life. We need salt; some of us need plenty of salt. But too much sodium and too little of the other necessary minerals leads to great mischief in our bodies.

• Our diets lack potassium and other minerals that we need. This deficiency causes the "salt sensitivity" that in some people causes high blood pressure. Read about: Salt And High Blood Pressure

• Our processed foods contain enormous amounts of salt, more than anyone's natural taste would require. Read about: Processed Food

• Our salt is the wrong kind of salt, which causes many of its bad effects. Refined salt is our table salt and used in processed food and restaurants. Instead of refined, industrial-made, heat-treated, processed salt, we need unrefined salt. Read about: Unrefined Salt And Refined Salt

Where Does All This Salt Come From?

Nearly 80% of the salt in our diet comes from processed food rather than salt we ourselves put on our food.

• Processed food contains too much salt and too few other minerals.
• Potassium and other minerals are lost during industrial food processing.

We couldn't even salt our food enough to match the salt we get in fast food, pizza, bread, breaded foods, frozen convenience foods, and other processed foods! What's more, the salt in these foods are the unhealthiest possible salt.

At least 50% of American calories come from processed food.

Many favorite processed foods are the culprits:

White bread and buns
Chips and crackers
Pizza
Canned soup
Fast food
Frozen dinners
Cold cuts and processed meat

Many of these foods have very low nutrient value: few vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals, or enzymes. Low food value compounds the problem of too much salt.

Solution: "Real food." Fruits, vegetables, unprocessed meat, and other whole foods contain needed vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients.

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