Salt, Diet and Health

All animals need salt, but humans are the only animals that add extra salt to their food. The authors of this controversial book argue that the deliberate and often well-camouflaged addition of salt to processed foods has momentous health consequences, comparable to the well-documented risks of smoking tobacco. To equate salt consumption with smoking is a strong statement, but MacGregor and de Wardener provide a compelling and forceful account of complex issues relating to the perceptions of salt in society. The authors separate fact from fantasy and cast light on some of the hidden forces working to manipulate and exploit the consumer. The book presents what amounts to a scientific detective story that unravels with startling clarity the jumble of misinformation that has been concocted by the powerful vested interests of the multi- billion-dollar food industry. Along the way, the authors illuminate the rich history and mythology associated with salt, its symbolism, and its manifold socio-economic influences. The book is filled with an amusing and eclectic selection of historical and contemporary illustrations that lend context to this complex topic. Not only does this book have profound implications for the study of public health, but it also serves as an entertaining and instructive account of a part of our diet that is too easily taken for granted and ignored at our peril. Whether you agree or disagree with the authors, this will be fascinating and enlightening reading for all who are concerned with the mounting prevalence of salt in our diets.