If you want to know how much sodium you should eat per day to optimize health and performance (and avoid disease), then you want to listen to this episode.

Salt has been with us for thousands of years.

The Egyptians used it in religious rituals and trade.

The Greeks bought slaves with it.

The Romans paid their soldiers with it (hence the word “salary”).

European plutocracies ran on salt, Confederate troops suffered for want of it, and these days, it can be found in pantries everywhere.

Salt was once a precious resource and now it’s a humdrum condiment.

C’est la vie. ?

Salt–the most important mineral in human history–has become even less than a lowly condiment, actually.

It’s now one of the most demonized nutrients in our modern diets.

The US government has been warning us about the (supposed) dangers of salt for decades now, which include an increased risk of heart disease and stroke.

Newer research casts doubt on these assumptions, though, suggesting that it may not be as harmful as we once believed.

Well, in this episode, we’re going to break it all down and learn…

-What sodium is.
-Why sodium is (apparently) bad for you.
-How much sodium you should eat.
-How much sodium is too much.
-How to control your sodium intake.

And more…

Let’s get started.

TIME STAMPS

3:27 – What is sodium?

5:06 – Why are we told that sodium is bad?

9:32 – How much sodium should I have every day?

12:33 – Does sodium intake affect weight loss?

13:55 – How do you reduce your sodium intake?

References

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12535503

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21731062

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25599120

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21058046

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12535503

http://www.mayoclinic.org/triglycerides/art-20048186

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21036373

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21289228

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21747015

http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?isbn=0309091691

http://www.ars.usda.gov/SP2UserFiles/Place/80400530/pdf/DBrief/10_potassium_intake_0910.pdf

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21747015

http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayFulltext?type=6&fid=8403078&jid=BJN&volumeId=106&issueId=07&aid=8403077&bodyId=&membershipNumber=&societyETOCSession=&fulltextType=ED&fileId=S000711451100506X

https://iom.nationalacademies.org/~/media/Files/Report%20Files/2013/Sodium-Intake-Populations/SodiumIntakeinPopulations_RB.pdf

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2657026/

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19173770

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8124802

http://booksite.elsevier.com/brochures/thekidney/PDFs/TheKidneyCh36_P088488.pdf

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9428447

http://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/potassium-supplement-oral-route-parenteral-route/proper-use/drg-20070753

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