Salt May Get an FDA Shakedown

New study defies conventional wisdom, but experts not convinced

(NEWSER) - In a world with constantly changing nutritional guidelines (eggs are bad for you; no, they're good for you! ), one food has seemed to be consistently maligned: salt. But a new, and highly contested, study finds that low-salt diets do not prevent high blood pressure—and actually increase the risk of death from heart attack or stroke. But CDC officials, in a rare move, criticized the study as flawed: It's too small, used subjects that were too young, and contradicts a body of evidence showing that high sodium consumption is dangerous. Supporters, however, claim that other studies have found adverse effects from low-sodium diets. More»

(NEWSER) - Most Americans eat way too much salt, and people with salt-sensitive medical conditions consume twice as much as they should, Scientific American reports. The American average is 3,456 milligrams per day. The FDA guideline for someone not at risk is 2,300 milligrams, or one teaspoon. For older people, African Americans, and people with hiogh blood pressure—about two-thirds of the population—that number is 1,500 milligrams. More»

On list of top sodium sources, salty junk food comes in a distant No. 10

(NEWSER) - If you had to bet $5 on whether more salt in your diet came from bread or chips, you'd probably be out five bucks. Potato chips, pretzels, and popcorn actually rank a distant No. 10 on the CDC's list of the top 10 sources of sodium, released yesterday. Bread and rolls claimed the top spot, with the CDC revealing that they account for more than twice as much sodium as salty junk food—about 7% of the salt that the average American eats in a day. And while it's recommended that we ingest only 2,300 milligrams of sodium a day, the CDC report notes that we consume around 3,300 milligrams. More»

Avandia less safe than alternatives; FDA weighs action

(NEWSER) - The mountain of evidence against diabetes drug Avandia grew a bit bigger today, with two major studies linking the medication to heart disease and stroke, the LA Times reports. An FDA panel will meet next month to discuss recalling the drug, which has been on the agency's radar at least since 2007, when a large analysis determined that Avandia raises users' risk of suffering a heart attack. More»

Small amount of dark chocolate daily lowers heart attack, stroke risk

(NEWSER) - Eating small amounts of chocolate may lower your risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke, according to new research out today. In a study of 19,000 middle-aged subjects, German scientists noted lower blood pressure in those who ate the most chocolate, accompanied by a 39% lower risk of heart attack and stroke compared to those who ate the least. More»