Salt, Diet and Health Book

Wars, sex and addiction...you would never think that the subject of Graham MacGregor and Hugh Wardener's highly informative book is just plain old salt. Yet the authors argue convincingly of the harmful effects of the substance, while somehow managing to keep the reader entertained on a subject which would inspire few to read on. As expected, the book covers the effects of a high salt intake, which raises blood pressure and increases the risk of kidney disease. More controversially, it insists a high salt diet is responsible for, or aggravates, other conditions such as cancer, asthma, kidney stones, enlargement of the heart and strokes. The claims are backed up by well-documented research from all over the world and the suggestions for future reading are exhaustive. Ways to reduce salt intake are also discussed, although these will already be familiar to most readers and suggest little that is new. What are interesting are the comparisons of the amount of salt in processed food to that of sea salt. For instance, a packet of crisps contains three times more salt than sea water! The eminent authors (MacGregor is Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of London St George's Hospital Medical School and de Wardener is Emeritus Professor of Medicine at the University of London Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine), argue forcefully against the influence of industries which rely on the high consumption of salt for business. What intrigued me most about this interesting publication is the history of salt which has even been the cause of wars and conflict. Homer called it a "divine" substance; Plato said it was "especially dear to the Gods"; and in the 16th century it was regarded by many as the fifth element, alongside earth, air, fire and water. It has been considered as a symbol of fertility, wisdom and sanctity, wit, durability, friendship and, ironically, health. And you thought salt just made your fish and chips taste better... --Carole ButterworthRead More