To salt or not to salt

Using salt to season foods is a practice that’s widely criticized as being bad for your health, especially for the elderly.  But a new study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, indicates that it may not be as bad a habit as once thought, according to the Association of Mature American Citizens.

The research concluded that “sodium intake was not associated with mortality or risk for CVD [cardiovascular disease] and HF [heart failure] in a cohort of adults 71 to 80 years old.  Our data emphasize the need for stronger evidence, preferably from rigorous controlled trials testing additional thresholds for sodium intake, before applying a policy of further sodium restriction to older adults beyond the current recommendation for the general adult population (2,300 mg/d).”

The study is not a license for salt lovers to start overusing their shakers on their hamburgers and fries, says AMAC.  It was the Roman orator Cicero who said: “Never go to excess, but let moderation be your guide.”