3 ms·

Hey seen salt so directly linked to heart disease.

• tracker1 10y ago
  Salt is generally only an issue if you already have, or are via family link likely to have heart issues... Of course, the anti-saturated fat and dietary cholesterol claims were also unbalanced and not well supported. However, most people have far more salt in their diet than they need anyway... What gets me more is the amount of "natural" flavors added to food... when you have a hypersensitive sense of smell and taste man some of that stuff is nasty, and 19 of 20 can't even smell/taste it. It may be natural and some people will respond positively to additives, but it's really harsh to some of us.
  • scarface74 10y ago
    Inspired by Pascal's Wager: Even if it's not clear that salt intake and saturated fat is bad for you, why take the chance? Three choices: 1. Salt/saturated fat are bad for you and you eat too much of both -- bad outcome. 2. Salt/saturated fat are not bad for you and you eat too much of both - neutral outcome 3. Salt/saturated fat are bad for you and you limit your intake - good outcome. I don't think anyone is arguing that too much salt and saturated fat are good for you, so the three scenarios above are the logical choices. If the scientific studies are wrong and you cut back anyway, you have "lost nothing". If they are right and you cut back, you have gained. There is no benefit by taking a chance that the accepted wisdom is wrong.
    • humanrebar 10y ago
      > Even if it's not clear that salt intake and saturated fat is bad for you, why take the chance? Pascal's Wager makes sense in that you have mutually exclusive options. Dietary choices don't work like that. Practically speaking, if you avoid certain ingredients, you expose yourself to more of others. Psychologically speaking, the average person only has so much willpower. It's best spend avoiding the worst foods and pursuing the best ones. Spending energy on pointless diets affects one's ability to pursue good ones.
      • scarface74 10y ago
        I agree. That's why I said "too much". I didn't say "cut out". In my case, I know my will power is weak. I keep "unhealthy" food out of the house so I'm not constantly being tempted. During the week I only have to resist temptation at lunch since I don't have access to junk food at work or at home. During the weekend, I don't go crazy but I don't go out of my way to eat healthy. If I do want something to sweet, I buy the smallest portion.
    • ThrowawayR2 10y ago
      > Salt/saturated fat are bad for you and you limit your intake - good outcome. I am in the middle of drastically restricting my salt and fat intake under a directive from my physician and I assure you I am quite thoroughly miserable and do not expect that to change in the foreseeable future.
    • Obi_Juan_Kenobi 10y ago
      I think it's important to realize that, when cooking your own food, you shouldn't be afraid to add salt. Generally you'll be adding much less than processed food, and it makes a huge difference in how tasty your food is. I would not be at all surprised if home-cooked low-salt diets have lower adherence to the point where the average benefit is much higher for a moderate-salt diet.
    • sevensor 10y ago
      Cutting back salt can be taken too far -- I've known older people who suffered electrolyte imbalance because they'd cut out salt at the advice of a doctor. The body needs salt (and saturated fat, for that matter) in some quantity. Bad for you and not bad for you are not the only alternatives here.
    • tracker1 10y ago
      And if they're good for you? IE: you need to have some salt and saturated fats in your diet... your options don't account for that scenario.