Salt, Healthy Blood Pressure Levels, and Libido: Highlights from the book The Salt Fix

I just finished reading the book The Salt Fix, and it addresses many topics which have come up in various threads here so I am posting some highlights, along with a few other items not covered in the book. The book has been out about ten years and I have heard many podcasts with the author, but the book covers many interesting details I don’t remember from any of the podcasts. So for those who like to read, I strongly recommend it, not only because of the useful information it contains, but because it is an ongoing example of how bad information is perpetuated to this day despite many lines of evidence and logic strongly suggesting that minimizing salt/sodium is terrible advice.



To summarize the book’s message in one sentence, the body can easily deal with too much salt in all but very rare extremes, however too little salt is surprisingly easy to achieve (especially for people who sweat a lot as most of us here between sauna and activity are likely doing, or who take drugs that have the side-effect of lowering sodium) and creates many non-intuitive forms of damage that the body cannot overcome without salt. (I am using salt and sodium interchangeably here, although technically sodium is a subset of salt.) A few highlights from the book include:

• Low Salt intake can lower libido and fertility, so those looking for things to raise either should err on the higher side of salt intake. This seems to be a very under-publicized issue given all the threads here and elsewhere looking for libido-boosting methods.
• Low potassium intake is far more likely to cause high blood pressure than high salt, and potassium should be one of the first things to look at to optimize blood pressure
• Low salt will raise heart rate and blood viscosity (both of which are harmful) to a degree that outweighs any benefit from a minor lowering of blood pressure, if it were to occur.
• Low salt can actually raise blood pressure in some cases and the negative of low salt extends to many body systems that have nothing to do with blood pressure
• There are commonly used drugs that can lower the amount of sodium in the body which would make avoiding salt even more dangerous.

The book is extensively referenced, and while I don’t have the knowledge to personally validate everything in it, the author cites numerous examples that back up the logic of his arguments, such as non-industrialized tribes with very low salt intake who also have very low fertility, to cite just one example. My only quibble with the book is that the author spends a lot of time making the case that sugar is causing much of the harm that salt has been blamed for, however more recently it has become clearer that excess intake of omega-6 fats is likely just as big a factor as sugar, however that doesn’t change the basic message of the book.

While not mentioned in the book, a couple of items to be aware of:

• People with large upper arms may often need a larger-than-standard cuff to get an accurate reading, and the standard cuffs may tend to read too high.
• Blood pressure readings can vary a lot so numerous readings under varying circumstances are necessary to start to get an accurate picture
• Blood pressure can tend to be higher in cold conditions
• If you are someone who doesn’t sweat very much in situations where you should like a sauna or working outdoors in the heat, this can be a sign that your body is low on something (like Iodine) that normally would be lost in sweat but which your body is trying to conserve. Sweat is also a key part of the body’s detox system and not something that you want to minimize.

Personally, since I raised my salt intake (especially in my pre-workout concoction) I have seen no rise in my blood pressure and if anything it has dropped a bit although that could be just random variation.

 

I don't think it's added to water in all areas of the UK, but where i am (West Midlands) it definitely is.
I didn't realise that the tap water in the USA had fluoride added to it too, but according to wikipedia it does:

Water fluoridation by country - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

Ya it’s the same deal. It’s not in all tap water, but in some areas it is

 

Trending natural cure "Blue Salt Trick for Men" promises to boost male performance, increase circulation, and treat erectile dysfunction (ED). Although it has become well-known on websites including YouTube, TikHub, and Reddit, its efficacy is still mostly anecdotal and supported by little scientific data.

Describe the Blue Salt Trick.
The technique is dissolving a tiny quantity of premium salt—often known as "blue salt—in warm water and then drinking it, either Persian blue salt or Hawaiian blue sea salt. Proponents claim this technique increases nitric oxide generation and enhances blood flow, therefore addressing any ED and stamina problems.

How to Execute the Trick
Get a warm water glass.

Add a bit of mineral-rich salt—such as blue, Himalayan, or sea salt.

Fully stir the mixture.

Drink it empty-handed or just before a close-up.

claimed advantages
Enhanced Circulation: The mineral makeup of salts such as Persian blue salt could help blood vessels to widen.

Claims include more stamina and firmness during intimacy, hence improving sexual performance.

Natural Solution: There is no synthetic chemical involved nor any intrusive surgery.

Daily ease of use: just fifteen seconds.

Scholarly Data
Although supporters point to studies showing minerals improve vascular health, there is no solid proof showing that eating blue salt especially treats ED or greatly improves performance. The unusual mineral concentration of salts such as Persian blue salt (e.g., potassium, magnesium) may enhance overall health but does not guarantee specific outcomes for sexual dysfunction.

Exercise caution; most assertions are based more on anecdotal evidence than on thorough research.

Too much salt can cause health problems like high blood pressure.

Marketing hype: Some sources overstate outcomes without any reliable support.

All things considered, although the Blue Salt Trick is simple to follow and may provide some slight circulatory advantages from its mineral content, its efficacy for ED or performance enhancement is not supported by science. Men looking for dependable answers should see doctors for evidence-based therapies.