The present heat wave that is gripping much of Europe is a timely reminder that summer temperatures are regularly becoming very much warmer than those we have been used to in previous years.
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Unfortunately, excessive heat puts many vulnerable people such as the sick, and the elderly at risk. Apart from the obvious precautions of staying out of the sun, keeping cool and drinking plenty of water, salt also plays an important part. Contrary to popular belief salt is not intrinsically harmful, on the contrary, it is essential and we must have it. How many times do we hear of people rushed to hospital for whatever reason and immediately being attached to a saline drip to save their lives?
DEATH TOLL OF THE ELDERLY
In the past, heat waves have resulted in many deaths. In France, the summer of 2003, saw an estimated 15,000 heat-related deaths, many of them older people left in city apartments and retirement homes that were not air-conditioned. Dr.J.Wallach, co-author with Dr. Ma Lan of ‘Dead Doctors Don’t Lie’, refers to the heat wave of 1993 which affected the upper Midwest and the east coast of America and claimed 733 lives. It transpired that even though half of the number of dead and those who were sent to hospital had air conditioners, almost all who died during the heat wave were on a salt restricted diet. Dr. Wallach is convinced that their deaths were caused by a simple salt or sodium deficiency which, in the case of a basic heatstroke, can be easily and quickly remedied with water and salt. He believes that if you follow the advice of some ‘experts' to restrict your salt intake to less than one gram per day, you will increase your risk of a heart attack by 600 per cent. He added, 'there is not a single double -blind study that shows significant benefit of a low sodium diet'. 
INDICATIONS OF SALT SHORTAGE
Dr.Batmanghelidj in his book ‘Your Body’s Many Cries for Water’, writes that as salt is an essential ingredient of the body ‘a salt free diet is utterly stupid’. In their order of importance, oxygen, water, salt and potassium are the primary elements for the survival of the human body. The body is able to adjust to the amount of salt through thirst, for example, when it needs extra water to dilute the salt. A healthy body processes just the amount of salt it needs and the kidneys dispose of any excess. Symptoms of insufficient salt include muscular weakness, muscular cramps and, in the extreme, heat exhaustion. According to Batmanghelidj , dizziness and feeling faint can also be indicators of salt and water shortage. Severe salt deprivation can even prove fatal. Far from restricting salt intake, he advises as a rule of thumb,'for every ten glasses of water, (about 2 quarts, or 2¼litres), one should add to the diet about half a teaspoon (approx 3 g) of salt per day'. But he warns that you should always make sure that your kidneys are producing urine or there could be a risk of oedema. |
THE CRUCIAL ROLE OF SALT
Dr. Batmanghelidj explains ‘there is salt in every cell of the body; about 250 grams in an adult human. This is why tears and sweat taste salty. Salt plays a crucial role in keeping the body functioning properly. During exercise, when feeling hot and during times of physiological changes, such as pregnancy or growing old, its role becomes even more fundamental. Most crucially, it maintains the balance of fluids which carry oxygen and nutrients around the body.’ He goes on to say that about 27 per cent of the salt content of the body is stored in the bones as crystals, and as salt crystals are naturally used to make bones hard, a salt deficiency could be responsible for the development of osteoporosis. Salt is leached out of the bones to maintain the vital normal levels of salt in the blood. 
FOLLY OF LOW SODIUM DIET
In his online newsletter of 2.12. 17, Dr.Mercola warns,'Your salt status directly controls your magnesium and calcium levels. If you do not get enough salt, your body not only starts pulling sodium from the bone, it also strips your bone of magnesium and calcium to maintain a normal sodium level. Your body will also attempt to maintain sodium by decreasing the amount of sodium lost in sweat, excreting magnesium and calcium instead. Thirdly, low sodium will elevate aldosterone, a sodium-retaining hormone, which also reduces magnesium by shuttling it out through your urine. A low-sodium diet is therefore one of the worst things you can do for your health, especially your bone and heart health, as magnesium is one of the most important minerals for biological function. Magnesium insufficiency will also trigger muscle cramps.' BEWARE OF SALT IN PROCESSED FOOD It is important to point out, however, that processed, salty food should be avoided at all cost, especially salty crisps and snacks. Food prepared in the home is best where you are in control of the amount and type of salt used. Natural, unprocessed salt in the form of sea salt or rock salt, should always be used in the kitchen and at the table as it contains much needed other trace minerals and clays. Avoid processed, refined table salt. It contains chemical additives to bleach it and to make it run freely; e.g E.535 Sodium ferrocyanide. |
