Seasoning Scapegoat Is Falsely Blamed for Immune Issues

By Dr. Scott Olson, ND Posted September 12, 2022

Dear Living Well Daily Reader,

A sprinkle of THIS. A dash of THAT.

If you like to cook, chances are you love seasoning your dishes to bring out their best flavors. But a study published last year has a lot of folks questioning how they’re preparing their food.

Because according to the researchers, no matter how nourishing your meals are, if you’re using this common seasoning, you could be compromising your immune system.

And let’s face it, with COVID-19 and other viruses threatening our health, the last thing we want as we head into the fall season is a weakened immune system.

But are the scientist’s conclusions accurate? Do you need to toss this common seasoning in the trash? Or could they have missed something significant?

According to the team out of Germany, their research found that folks who are very fond of salt may unintentionally be doing damage to their immune systems.

That, of course, means they could be at greater risk for developing infections of all sorts ranging from UTIs to COVID-19.

The study was published in the journal Science Translational Medicine and focused on how salt can change the immune system.

To start with, the researchers fed mice a high-salt diet. They found that the mice were more susceptible to bacterial infections. Next, they recruited some human volunteers to see what would happen when they ate a higher salt diet.

The volunteers were given six grams of salt beyond the recommended daily amount. And, sure enough, the researchers reported that the participants also began to develop signs of immune issues.

So, “case closed,” right? Ditch the salt if you don’t want to be more vulnerable to viruses and other illnesses. Well, not so fast. There are a few other things we need to factor in to get a complete picture before we decide to demonize salt.

This isn’t the first time salt has been studied, of course. And previous research found the opposite to be true. The earlier study demonstrated that salt can improve immune system function by triggering immune cells (macrophages) to become more active.

That’s not all. Other research also suggests salt is essential for fighting off invaders effectively. You see, your body moves salt to areas that are infected. And once there, it makes it more difficult for foreign bacteria to survive.

But wait. I’m not done yet. Salt also provides vital raw materials your body needs to produce stomach acid. That means it’s critical for creating your first line of defense against any sickening bacteria in the food you eat.

And despite what you may have been told, salt isn’t typically a major contributor to high blood pressure. (I’ll have more on this in just a moment.)

Here’s the truth. For most of us, the majority of our salt comes from the junk sodium that’s dumped into processed and ultra-processed foods. But that salt isn’t alone.

Those convenience foods… ranging from spaghetti sauces to microwave meals… are also swimming in sugar, artificial colors, sweeteners, and other additives. And it’s all that junk that’s doing major harm to your body.

Salt, on the other hand, can deliver some big benefits instead.

• Real salt contains trace minerals that are hard (or impossible) to get elsewhere.
• Salt can help boost your energy levels and improve your sleep.
• Sodium helps balance water levels in your body, keeping you from dehydrating and warding off cramps.

But the type of salt DOES matter. As I mentioned earlier, the majority of sodium in the Western diet comes from processed foods. And that’s the lowest quality you can find.

Dump the junk food and fix fresh meals from scratch instead. Then feel free to sprinkle some high-quality Himalayan or sea salt (I prefer Real Salt by Redmond) into your home-cooked dishes.

P.S. In-depth research has failed to turn up any solid connection between high blood pressure and reasonable salt intake. Not even a little bit. Discover the truth about the salt myth here.

Source:

“High-salt diet suppresses autoimmune demyelination by regulating the blood–brain barrier permeability,” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 118, 12, (e2025944118), (2021). https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2025944118

Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND

Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.

View More By Dr. Scott Olson, ND