Myth about salt

blood pressure. “The biggest issue with children is that parents think foods labelled low-salt are healthy so they end up buying junk food which has been flavoured with added sugar instead.

“When I started giving my kids fresh food with salt to cut through the natural bitterness of green vegetables, they ate a lot more. Salt is the antidote to sugar.”

DiNicolantonio also points out that a craving for salt can be a symptom of other illnesses and so is worth investigating, not ignoring.

“People with diseases like Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis, which causes damage to the intestine, will not be able to absorb salt properly. If you are losing too much salt, it might be due to damage to the kidneys, which may actually be caused by overconsuming sugar.”

Ironically, if we are eating too much sugar in an attempt to replace salt, we may well be causing exactly that sort of damage to our digestive system.

So what happens if you don’t get enough salt in your diet? “You may have a really big increase in heart rate, dizziness, faintness, muscle cramps and spasms. It can lead to cognitive decline and memory impairment too because we need sodium to carry vitamin C into the brain.

“It can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, because salt deficiency can increase blood clotting and platelet activity. And it may even cause the very high blood pressure you may be trying to combat, because salt deficiency can lead to increased insulin resistance and obesity, both of which cause the heart rate to increase and hence increase blood pressure.

He adds: “Don’t blame salt for what processed food and refined sugars did. It is a natural substance we all need. Let’s bring it back to the table.”

● Cut out refined carbs and added sugars; that’s an easy and quick way to lose weight and improve overall health

● Cut out the bad white crystal – sugar – and eat salt with a clear conscience

● Eat more foods naturally high in magnesium and potassium, such as nuts and seeds, and bitter greens

● Take up resistance training – the best way to grow mitochondria

● Avoid too much fat. Fat is not inherently bad, but that doesn’t mean unlimited amounts

● Look for a natural salt. Modern oceans have pollution issues. — The Daily Telegraph

● The Salt Fix by James DiNicolantonio is published by Penguin