Counseling Sheet

Agatha M. Thrash, M.D.
Preventive Medicine

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A salt-free diet may be used for headaches, gynecologic problems, high blood pressure, kidney diseases, heart disease, fluid retention or swelling in various areas, overweight, and other problems.

For thousands of years, salt was used without paying attention to the fact that it might be harmful. In the last century we have come to understand the harmful effects of any nutrient, when taken in concentrated form. As with sugar, fats, vitamins, other minerals, and refined proteins, we know that salt and the other minerals can damage the body in high concentration. A very high salt intake often begins in infancy with the feeding of cow's milk and high-salt baby foods. A salt craving can accompany a person throughout life. Many researchers believe that a high salt concentration in the blood forces too much sodium (salt is sodium chloride) into heart muscle cells, weakening and damaging them years before a heart attack occurs.

We do not understand how salt injures the kidneys, but in some way a large quantity of salt increases the likelihood that the kidneys will be injured and participate in the elevation of blood pressure. Very likely there is a hereditary sensitivity to salt in most hypertensives.

In fluid retention or swellings, the presence of salt in the tissues can encourage fluid retention. One should bear in mind that wherever there is a grain of salt, there will be a drop of water to hold it in proper solution.

A salt-poor or salt-free diet may be given for overweight, since there is a great enhancement of flavor in foods with the addition of salt. For a person whose appetite for food is already far too keen, this kind of diet is very helpful. A salt-free diet promotes proper chewing and proper control of the appetite.

Certain individuals will have complete cessation of headaches, when a salt-free diet is instituted. We assume that the influence of salt on arterioles and small arteries accounts for this effect. Individuals with hay fever may notice a similar benefit when going off salt.

It is easy to maintain an essentially salt-free diet at home, if you observe a few simple rules:

1. Never add salt in preparation of food.
2. Never add salt at the table.
3. Do not use baked goods, crackers, or canned vegetables, unless you have made them yourself without salt. Fresh and frozen vegetables are all right.
4. Most meats are high in salt; especially, never use processed meats, like hot dogs, salami, bologna, etc.
5. Eliminate all dairy products; they are all naturally high in salt.

By using onions, garlic, and other condiments and cooking herbs, one can season food nicely without using salt.

Remember that baking powder, baking soda, and monosodium glutamate all contain sodium and should be eliminated.