High Salt Consumption Linked To High Asthma Rates

Salt And Asthma

High salt intake has been linked to high asthma rates since the 1930’s, but many people don’t know about the link. Researchers in the 1930’s showed they could stop children’s asthma attacks by lowering their sodium levels.^[1]

Subsequent studies also indicated that diets high in salt were linked to higher asthma rates.^[2]

Another study showed childhood asthma rates were much higher in developed Western countries compared to the less developed and more “natural” countries.^[3] The study showed the asthma rates weren’t determined by genetics because when people moved to high risk areas their asthma risk increased.

Increasing asthma rates in Western countries led researchers to look again at possible agents including salt. Again, this later study found increased salt intake was linked to increased asthma death.^[4]

In the 1990’s, researchers conducted the most scientifically sound test to see how salt intake affected asthma conditions. Researchers conducted a randomized, double blind, placebo controlled, crossover design.^[5]

The study allowed researchers to directly monitor how increasing and reducing salt intake affected asthma conditions. People who had asthma suffered from worsened conditions as their salt intake increased. Reducing their salt consumption reduces their asthma conditions.

Reduce Asthma

Though various things contribute to asthma risk, sound scientific studies have shown that increased salt intake worsens asthma conditions.

Start with severely reducing or eliminating additive salt from the diet to reduce asthma. A whole food plant based diet is naturally low in salt or sodium, so consuming a whole food plant based diet is a good place to start.

Learn More About Foods Naturally Low in Salt on the Dr. Sebi Nutritional Guide »

Sources:
[1] Possible relation between electrolyte balance and bronchial asthma.
[2] Influence of Induced Variations in Electrolyte and Water Exchanges with Pitressin in Bronchial Asthma.
[3] Prevalence of asthma: a comparative study of urban and rural Xhosa children.
[4] A diet rich in sodium may potentiate asthma. Epidemiologic evidence for a new hypothesis.
[5] Effect of alterations of dietary sodium on the severity of asthma in men..