4 ms·

While the causes of too much salt are debated, I see fairly regularly the effects to too little salt. In a hot climate (Southeastern U.S.), I'm often outdoors

by alttag 15y ago

While the causes of too much salt are debated, I see fairly regularly the effects to too little salt. In a hot climate (Southeastern U.S.), I'm often outdoors with sports teams or youth groups, and I see the effects of heat-related conditions regularly. These are prevented and treated with water and salt (electrolytes). [1] [2] So yeah, too much salt may be a problem. Maybe not. But too little certainly is, and it's common in the active youth I observe. 1: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperthermia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperthermia 2: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrolyte http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrolyte

michaelcampbell 15y ago
Couple things here, and I say this with the utmost respect. Your anecdote is not "data", and even if it were, you've failed to prove any sort of causality of "too little salt". Salt is but one of many possible electrolytes, and and "heat related conditions" are not necessarily solved with salt; chances are dehydration clear and simple could also be the cause of the effects you're seeing.
- lukeschlather 15y ago
  Hyponaetremia is well-documented, and I'm sure someone who has spent a summer supervising children in the heat can tell the difference between hyponaetremia and dehydration. With utmost respect, you sound like you haven't had first aid training and you don't spend much time outdoors in hot weather.
  - alttag 15y ago
    Thanks for the support. I think GP is right to be cautious (and data is not necessarily equivalent to multiple anecdotes over more than a decade). However, I would assert that my experiences are not unique. You are correct that the symptoms are different [1][2], and that first aid training (in my case, Red Cross) acknowledges the necessity of both fluids and electrolytes. More broadly, the term "[D]ehydration, despite the name, does not simply mean loss of water, as water and solutes (mainly sodium) are usually lost in roughly equal quantities" [3], meaning that even if water is replenished, salt intake must also be increased. It's been my experience (and we're back to anecdote, unsupported by my first aid training) that dehydration may occur quickly (especially in hot weather), but insufficient electrolytes occurs over a period of days of insufficient replenishment (e.g., training, sports tournaments, resident camps). 1: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001431/ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001431/ 2: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001977/ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001977/ 3: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dehydration http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dehydration
ArbitraryLimits 15y ago
A somewhat peripheral question, but if we all cut back on salt intake where are we going to get our dietary iodine from? I lived in Italy for several years, where salt is (was? might have changed) not iodized and I regularly saw people with huge goiters in the throat.
- marshray 15y ago
  Iodine could be taken in supplements or added to other common foods. There are plenty of people on low-salt diets in the US under the supervision of doctors and participating in clinical studies. If it were to become a problem here, it's not one that's likely to go unnoticed.

by alttag 15y ago

michaelcampbell 15y ago

Couple things here, and I say this with the utmost respect. Your anecdote is not "data", and even if it were, you've failed to prove any sort of causality of "too little salt". Salt is but one of many possible electrolytes, and and "heat related conditions" are not necessarily solved with salt; chances are dehydration clear and simple could also be the cause of the effects you're seeing.

lukeschlather 15y ago
Hyponaetremia is well-documented, and I'm sure someone who has spent a summer supervising children in the heat can tell the difference between hyponaetremia and dehydration. With utmost respect, you sound like you haven't had first aid training and you don't spend much time outdoors in hot weather.
- alttag 15y ago
  Thanks for the support. I think GP is right to be cautious (and data is not necessarily equivalent to multiple anecdotes over more than a decade). However, I would assert that my experiences are not unique. You are correct that the symptoms are different [1][2], and that first aid training (in my case, Red Cross) acknowledges the necessity of both fluids and electrolytes. More broadly, the term "[D]ehydration, despite the name, does not simply mean loss of water, as water and solutes (mainly sodium) are usually lost in roughly equal quantities" [3], meaning that even if water is replenished, salt intake must also be increased. It's been my experience (and we're back to anecdote, unsupported by my first aid training) that dehydration may occur quickly (especially in hot weather), but insufficient electrolytes occurs over a period of days of insufficient replenishment (e.g., training, sports tournaments, resident camps). 1: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001431/ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001431/ 2: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001977/ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001977/ 3: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dehydration http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dehydration

ArbitraryLimits 15y ago

A somewhat peripheral question, but if we all cut back on salt intake where are we going to get our dietary iodine from? I lived in Italy for several years, where salt is (was? might have changed) not iodized and I regularly saw people with huge goiters in the throat.

marshray 15y ago
Iodine could be taken in supplements or added to other common foods. There are plenty of people on low-salt diets in the US under the supervision of doctors and participating in clinical studies. If it were to become a problem here, it's not one that's likely to go unnoticed.