For many years now, the federal government has been advising Americans they are eating too much salt. Some scientists and critics of Big Government have warned about the health impacts of such warnings, on the grounds that not everyone is affected by salt and too little salt can be dangerous for one's health.
Now, the Washington Post's Wonkblog says more scientists doubt salt is as bad for people as the government says.
Jeff Stier is a senior fellow focusing on health policy for the National Center for Public Policy Research. He has been one of the people warning against government concerns about salt.
Stier
"It does feel good [to be verified], but it's worrisome because the federal government, the food activists, are still pushing to make our diets left-wing rather than healthy," he tells OneNewsNow.
One continuing claim with diet concerns, like those over salt, is that the science is not clear. Stier believes the issue is very clear.
"People with high blood pressure who are salt-sensitive, who make up a small portion of the entire population, need to limit their salt," he explains. "For the rest of us, we actually can have a moderate amount of salt, which is actually above the current federal guidelines."
Current dietary guidelines view too much salt as anything more than 2,300 milligrams of sodium per day. That amount is much lower (1,500 milligrams per day) for African Americans and people over 50 years of age.
Stier recommends people have their blood pressure monitored to see if it is high, and then find out whether they are salt-sensitive by reducing salt and observing whether it affects their blood pressure.
"If not, you probably need medication," he adds. "But for the vast majority of the population who do not have high blood pressure or are not salt-sensitive, it really is not a problem. The problem is when the federal government or local governments or food activists get involved."