Salt
Read the many comments below about salt intolerance
Salt Additives
The following may be found in salt as anti-caking agents (list courtisy of Pepper Combs):
- Ferric ammonium citrate
- Silicon dioxide
- Sodium ferrocyanide
- Magnesium silicate
- Magnesium carbonate
- Propylene glycol
- Aluminum calcium silicate
- Sodium aluminosilicate (also called sodium silicoaluminate)
Iodine is often added to ensure sufficient dietary iodine.
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{ 76 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m another one with a negative reaction to salt. I’ve been aware of my problem for several years but have been living with it and have just recently begun to try to find answers. My family physician just doesn’t know much about it.
As well as the problem sources listed in the former comments above, I can add a few more. During the winter, particularily late winter, I have a very difficult time with road salt dust. On dry days, traffic stirs the de-icing salt spread on the highways and when I breathe the unavoidable dust I’m off stride (sick) for a couple of days; experiencing swollen and cracked lips, puffiness in the face, upset digestion and irratibility. Another related problem source occurs when I sweep the garage floor in the spring. The concrete floor has a high level of road salt on it from slush and ice dropping from the car onto the garage floor. It melts dries and creates a sodium dust later. I experience similar reactions to this salt intake. These two sources suggest sodium can be taken into the body through the lungs as you breathe a salt laden dust. Salt is quite soluble and easily dissolves into the moisture within the lung aveoli and from there it’s an easy osmotic trip into the bloodstream.
A third source from which I suffer bad reactions is from powdered dishwasher detergent. The tiny residue of detergent on a glass rim is enough to make my lips and face puff up for 2 or 3 hours. I no longer drink from a glass washed in a dishwasher.
I would like to know if anyone is aware of medical research projects or studies that have been done in the past, or that are currently underway, on this topic?
Harry
My mother has a serious
My mother has a serious medical condition that she calls an allergy to salt. In fact it is probably an intolerance. Allergies are reactions to proteins and salt has no protein, but intolerances can be similar at least in how they feel to the patient. She was diagnosed almost 50 years ago when patients didn’t have access to as much information as they do now and has continual medical care for it. She has been told to avoid all salt and takes Aldactone. She can’t eat any kind of processed or canned foods because they have added salt. She can only eat in restaurants where they will specially cook her food without salt. Foods that have a lot of salt naturally, like spinach, she must avoid. In a way it’s been a good thing for our family as we’ve all learned to cook fresh foods well.
I’m sure she gets tiny amounts of salt where it naturally occurs in food. The Aldactone is to deal with that. I know that salt is supposed to be necessary, but somehow she only functions well without as much as most people need, though I’m sure there is a tiny amount in her system.
Salt makes her swell and she becomes extremely irritable. Her personality really shifts. I don’t know if she gets hives or itchy skin. She’s always been meticulous in her avoidence of salt so I have few memories of her symptoms. While a salt “allergy” isn’t really possible, it is possible to have a serious medical condition that requires the elimination of salt from the diet. Anyone having these kinds of problems should see a physician to discover the source. Whether it’s an intolerance, allergy to something else, or another underlying problem like a heart condition, a physician should be able to help.
Thanks for the information
Thanks for the information. You have included some details that will be helpful to other who can not tolerate salt.
Could you please tell us what the name of the condition is? Thank you, Mary
salt sensitivity
Wow, I find this tread very interesting. I have been noticing when I add too much salt to my food or eat out my eyes swell at night and my joints swell. The mercury poisoning part fascinates me as my sister was just diagnosed with severe mercury poisoning and we both have mercury fillings. I also have early onset of arthritis as i am only 37. I am wondering if there is a correlation? I plan to get my mercury levels checked.
In NYC restaurants are being forced to cut the sodium by 20%.
Salt and joint swelling
I’m just wondering if anyone has heard of what can cause joint swelling the day after eating salt? it’s been occurring for 8 mos or so, and i’ve cut back to NO salt at all the past several mos, but occasionally i break down and have some and several of my joints swell and are in excruciating pain, to the point where if I ingest a lot of salt or i eat it more than two days in a row, i can’t walk because of the pain in my foot/toe joints………..any ideas?
dr. think arthritis but i have to go back for a follow up………been delaying on that……
I cured AKS arthritis by going gluten free. I had too many symptoms to mention. Once they diagnosed me – about 10th dr, nurse said it was positive and to research it and be prepared to talk about it at my followup appt. All the websites for arthritis linked to info that people with arthritis and joint pain who stopped eating wheat / gluten their pain went away. i did and by my 3 wk followup I was pain free after suffering for 2 years. i immediately have pain within 24 hrs after accidentally eating any form of gluten – so it rarely happens anymore. i have researched it extensively and know what to look out for. i have more info if you care to chat – email me. good luck to you
Salt water allergy
My son (2 yrs. old) has developed rashes after being in salt water swimming pools and now after going to the beach. I can’t seem to find anything about this. Is it possible that he has an allergy to salt water?
salt water allergy
my son had the same problem. dr said it was eczema, and to make sure to put lots of skin lotion on it and if it did not work to come back for a cream. 1st time it happened we thought it was a jellyfish the second time we thought he was bittten by a spider or something. Did what the doctor said and it was gone in 3 days.
Salt sensitivity???
I think I am having an extreme reaction to sodium. For the past several months, I have been experiencing severe edema everywhere. It is in my face, feet, ankles, legs, hands, abdomen, etc. My whole body swells up and if I eat a certain food with a lot of sodium in it, I can gain 10 lbs in one day from the edema!! I’m not sure if it is just sodium or if it is for sure the sodium, but it is the only thing that I can come up with right now. I feel weak and tired and have no energy during this. I’ve tried diuretics and they barely help. Even if I avoid sodium (as best as I can, considering everything has sodium in it), I am still mildly swollen. I have been to several doctors including my general doctor, endocrinologist, allergist and gastroenterologist. I have had several blood tests checking my hormones, organ functions, thyroid, etc. and all of my labwork is normal. I also had a cat scan of my abdomen and that was normal as well. I had an endoscopy done and am still waiting the biopsy results. I have never had anything like this happen to me before and I never had any allergies or food sensitivities that I’m aware of. I’m pretty sure that something is going on in my body and that salt (sodium) and alcohol just intensify the effects of the edema. My blood pressure is also normal. None of the doctors can help me and they are all clueless. I am very aggravated and angry at this point and I need to know what is going on with my body. I weigh ten more lbs today than I did two days ago!! I had Thai food for dinner (I even asked them to lighten up on the salt) on Friday and Mexican on Saturday. I am overall a very healthy person. I am active and eat very healthy usually. I have an appointment this week to see a Rheumatologist and also a Naturopath. I’m not sure what I should be eating or what else I can do to figure this out. Please help!! Any advice/suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I am losing my mind over this. : (
salt sensitivity???
hello, I have been going through the same thing for quite awhile. I understand the frustration. I am supposed to see an allergist in a couple of weeks. I have also had the weight gain and swelling. I was just on my honeymoon and did some drinking and it seemed to get worse. I also ended up with an abcess in my gum and was rinsing with saltwater and my leg blew up like a balloon. I am still swollen and my calf is 5 inches smaller! If you come up with any answers please email me. My name is Tricia. Im from Pennsylvania. [email removed due to policy against emails in comments. Please reply in comments below -ed]
Tracy I understand what you
Tracy I understand what you are going through. The same thing happens to me and the doctors think I am crazy. Would love to know how you are making out . Do you have an email?
Tracy the same thing happens to me. I would love to know how you made out. please email me at jmsshell at comcast dot net I cant find a doctor to help.
I bet the naturopath helps you. Research ‘gluten intolerance’ sounds like all of your symptoms are related to it. I am also gluten intolerant and sensitive to salt. Google ‘gluten intolerance and your symptom(s). Word things different ways – you get different results and the blogs are also very helpful.
Tracy & Tricia, I have the exact same symptoms – edema (especially after traveling or eating a meal out when I have less control over using whole foods). And the endema gets much more severe in heat, even mild heat. I’ve had some blood work done (including a test for gluten allergy), CBC and thyroid and everything looks normal. My blood pressure is great, like 110/70. The discomfort often feels worse in the morning, use to be mostly my feet felt that felt (and looked!) swollen, but now I feel it more and more and more in my hands. It makes me tired/fatigued. I think running helps (maybe because it reduces some of the salt through perspiration)? If you find out more in terms of diagnosis or management, please let us know! I’m in my 20s, exercise 3-4 a week, eat healthfully and this problem has gotten more and more uncomfortable.
May be it is fructosemalabsorbtion (not f.intolerance). Both salt and fructose “stick to” water – and with leaky gut this combination of water, salt and not absorbated fructose get into the blood and into the cell all over inside the body – and it will stay there a couple of days because the salt keeps it there. If it is so in a body, and we continue to eat or drink more salt and fructose than our body can make out with, the cells in our bodies will continue to absorbate more. And the inside organs can after some time come into big trouble. May be it is because there is something wrong with the mineral combinations inside of the cells, that so much salt goes inside them, or maybe it is only becase the cells needs water, and the only water there is to get is the water with these salt and frucose stick to it.
With less fructose, the system can stand more salt. With less salt, the system can stand more fructose. With less both salt and fructose – the body weight gets lower quick – maybe 2 or 4 pound a day.
Check the body weight first – and so try to awoid those food products who continue most fructose, red and yellow fruicts and vegetabes, fruict juices and ordinary sugar – and ask a doctor to get tested if you have a fructosemalabsorbtion – and so check the weight the next day and the next day.. and see what happens.
It is a big problem that the food industry puts more and more pure fructose in our food. It is because the fructose is more sweet, but it is not good for our body.
(This problem is probably a stomac-consequense of antibiotica treatment)
You wrote this nearly 2 years ago, so may be you have found a cure for your problem long ago. If so, please tell me about it. And may be somebody else will find this interesting. If so, I very much want to know.
Interesting ideas, Mia.
Why, according to your theory, do most people not experience a problem with salt, considering leaky gut syndrome is quite common, and most people eat lots of (too much) salt and fructose?
Those who have problem with fructose have too little of the transporter GLUT5, which brings fructose from the gut out to the blood – and maybe there also is some lach of enzyms in the stomach to take care of the fructose here. (Antibiotika/penicilin can have made something go wrong here). And I wonder if it can be someting wrong like this also with the “taking care of” the salt from the stomach and also in the gut. But we are not made for handling so much salt and fructose. Maybe it isn’t true that those other not gets ill. They just gets other symtoms, which are known as “orderary illnes” like high blood presure, heart attack, brain stroke, diabetes and a lot of other symptoms.
It is true that some people react strongly to certain foods and must eliminate them, where as many others have a moderate reaction they don’t really notice, feeling a bit sick becomes ‘normal’, and they eventually have major illness down the road.
Thanks for the tip about transporter GLUT5.
salt allergy
I think I am allergic to salt—I have been experimenting with what I am eating/not eating and the only thing that makes sense is the salt. If I eat popcorn (that I make fresh) and put salt (or sea salt) on it, I wake up the next morning and my eyes are almost swollen shut–the extreme puffiness stays for a couple days–they are also itchy and red—very attractive! I try to avoid salty foods—I can have some salt, but not much. Is this possible? I have been to an allergist–we thought it might be sulfites because if I drink even a couple sips of wine from a box the reaction starts almost immediately. After testing for this we found this wasn’t the case and he asked me to keep a food diary. I have been on a very strict diet and after eating the same food for several days and being symptom free, it is fairly easy to tell that it was something on the popcorn. I put butter and salt on it—I have also had a reaction to crackers, Taco Bell tacos, french fries—-the only thing that seems to be the same is the salt. Any ideas?
Salt sensitivity condition
I believe there is a condition where you can be hyper-sensitive to salt, although it is not an allergy.
Best you talk to your doctor about this.
It sounds like you do better without salt in your diet, although salt is necessary for the body to work properly (I was once extremely sick due to a salt deficiency).
You’ll definitely want medical advice from your doctor on this one.
I was reading your problem and it seems I have the same situation with my eyes swelling right up and having to be on cortizone and benadry. My reaction lasts for at least 6 days. This started in 1983 for me and in the last 5 years I only learned what it is for me and it is artificial fruit flavouring in many foods. Natural fruit is fine for me. It could be in crackers as well, ice creams, fruit flavoured chocolates, juice boxes or other fruit juices, fruit flavoured yogurts, plain are fine. I have to read labels and restaurants may have it I usually try to get something plain. It is in many foods and have to read labels. Hope this helps you out.
bad reaction to salt
There are 3 people that I know of (one is me) that get extremely tense, angry and irritable for 2 days after the consumption of any added salt, the sodium that is present in milk etc.. is o.k., but if any salt at all is added, or any baking soda, sea salt, msg etc.., basically anything containing sodium, we have this horrible reaction. Also, I get a headache and my heart pounds, one of the other 2 also ends up with a bad stomach ache the next day and spends alot of time in the bathroom. We have been testing this for about 10 years now, so we know for a fact that it is salt.
One Dr., (we have seen many) suggested an issue with sodium channels. I have also looked into hypernatremia, but that doesn’t seem to be the case.
Anyone have any thoughts that may be helpful? This is so bad for us that we avoid salt completely. If we do get some, we don’t have to say anything, as people notice easily. This is a very hard diet, any help would be appreciated.
I have similar symptoms to
I have similar symptoms to you, I have to restrict my sodium intake to between 900 and 1200mg per day due to an ion channel blockage caused by mercury leaching from my fillings. My family have a history of acrodynia (pink disease) with five sufferers disgnosed in 3 generations, so there’s a tendency to accumulate mercury rather than to eliminate it.
I’m being treated for chronic mercury poisoning now with chellating agents and can just start to see an improvement after 12 months.
Mercury in fillings and ion channel blockage
Thanks for making the connection between mercury from dental work and the particular problem of salt sensitivity.
I had all my fillings out about ten years ago and my allergy problems are slowly improving.
I’m now detoxifying with $immunocal$.
Just today, I had the last toxic piece of metal removed from my mouth. I forgot about my bridge.
It doesn’t have mercury in it, but it likely has cadmium, another toxic heavly metal, and nickle, which is $carcinogenic$.
Regarding your salt allergy… I may have some thoughts. Are you a vegetarian OR have you ever done spriulina or chlorella or seaweeds for any length of time?
Mary
I have a sensitivity to salt and am a vegan. I do add spriulina to some food also. I am interested in your thoughts. Thanks!
Being vegan is definitely challenging. Many vegetarians use soy as a major protein source. It is high in estrogen-like chemicals and unless fermented, is not healthy in large quantities. I’ve heard conflicting views about tofu, so you might want to look into that some more.
I’m still trying to get more information on salt sensitivity. One thing I have discovered is that many people are sensitive to iodine rather than salt, and most salt is iodized. You might want to look into that. Salt is very important to the body (unless you get way to much – which many people do) so it would be worth finding out if it is the salt, the iodine (some sea food and seaweeds tend to be high in iodine), or some other salt additive which is causing the problem.
Do please share anything that you find.
Good luck!
I am a pescatarian and I have used Spirulina, but went off because of my symptoms. Why do u ask?
Salt allergy
I have a salt allergy and it seem I have to much, it like it is coming out of my eye’s like grit and out of my skin, it makes me very tied and I can lose weight, I have been told by my dr that my metabilsim has stop, can you help me solve my problem.
Kind Regards Mennie
You can’t be allergic to
You can’t be allergic to salt because it is a necessity to life. Your body can’t function with out it. it’s more likely the msg.
am I allergic to salt?
I find that when I eat chinese food,especially after 6pm,I sweat all night,so I have to drink gallons of water.I get red lumps on my back,and I cant sleep.
MSG allergy more likely
Hi Julie,
Chinese cooking is not particularly high in salt as a general rule.
It does have a reputation for being quite high in MSG.
Try asking for food without MSG.
Yes, this is true. But – MSG is a kind of modified wheat, salt and gum, but a chemical. So the wheat properties (taste) are multiplied by the salt, so the food tastes far better with little ingredients, bascially a filler. Who knows what kind of salt like allergy MSG can have on a individual? Seeing it is a chemical, technically, it would be a chemical alergy. Which to me sounds like an oxy-moron; No on should react well to a chemical!
There are many classes of chemical.
Everything in the physical world is a chemical, including water and oxygen.
Many chemical reaction problems arise from synthesized rather than natural chemicals, and refined chemicals (including MSG and sugar).
sounds like msg. msg also contains gluten. google ‘gluten intolerance’ and your symptom(s)
I have localized salt allergy
Hi, I have a salt allergy. When I eat popcorn at the movies or the garlic butter salt that you can put on pizza my lips get knumb and swell. I never had that problem as a kid but it’s something that has develped as I got older. Also if It’s on my fingers and I scratch my nose or rub my eyes it burns like crazy. It doesn’t bother me to eat salt otherwise. Also I don’t really like salt at all. I don’t add it to anything except maybe popcorn and eggs and very little when I do.
Pure salt can irritate
What you’re describing is a typical reaction to pure salt for some people.
This is not an allergy.
I had to comment because I left the movie theater the other day…After eating their popcorn with the cheese/salt…I will admit I ate a little more than I should’ve & before leaving I felt the numbing & tingling & thought Carmax would stop it. The next day I awoke to swollen lips.
Salt intolerance/allergy
I am quite sure I have a salt allergy, but the symptoms mentioned above do not match the ones I experience. I get tightness in the chest, difficulty breathing, tiredness, loss of all energy and a general feeling of lethargy. I know that it is not other foods that I am eating at the time, because I have experimented. It just came on suddenly this year. Generally I am an extremely healthy person!
When I completely cut out salt for days I feel so much better. If I eat something with a moderate amount of salt I will feel the effects for at least two days.
This is so depressing because I already have a very limited diet – I am a strict vegetarian AND I am gluten intolerant.
My girlfriend read in a naturopathy book that a high potassium diet might help. I am going to give that a try, but basically I may just have to change my diet forever and live with it.
Finally, I should mention that I took a swim in the ocean at the end of summer and I felt fantastic! All my symptoms disappeared for a few days. I don’t understand it but I intend to try it again when the seasons become warmer, it might be worth a shot.
Mineral imbalance?
Maybe you have a mineral imbalance.
Swimming in the ocean won’t cure an allergy, but it may expose you to types of salt you don’t normally have in your diet.
Salt intolerance
I also have a similar intolerance to salt. For a year or so, my symptoms were identical to yours, but over the past three years these symptoms have become more acute.
A few hours after consuming a total of about 4g of salt (cumilativly over the course of a day), my symptoms now include palpitations, loss of blood flow from arms, legs and head (resulting in an overall grey apearance, an itchy scalp and a very strong sweat odour from under my arms), tremours and weakness.
At 6g of salt, these symptoms extend to include vomiting, intense headache, colourful visual disturbances – similar to a migrane – and breathing difficulties.
These events last for between 20mins and an hour, and before finding out that salt was the culprit, would occur once or twice during the day and bring me out of sleep at least once during the night.
As long as I keep my salt intake below about 4g, I can mainly avoid these symptoms, although I still have about 5 ‘attacks’ per week, but I am very concerned that as time passes, this threshold will drop further.
Thankfully, I do not suffer from mood swings or swollen lips that are frequently refered to on the web, but Marcus, you seem to have the exact same problems as I was experiencing about 3 years ago – please get in touch if your symptoms have progressed (or improved), as it could be mutualy benificial.
I am 47, 12 stone and fit. I anyone has any theories other than ‘you cant be alergic to salt’, then I am very keen to listen.
I also get chest pains and have been trying to self diagnose my symptoms since I son’t have insurance and plus even if I did doctors never really take ample time to underatand your issue when there is a wide array of symptoms. I have been sick for months now and just recently my chest pains finally started to go away, but the last 2 days they have been back and i notice i have been gargling with salt water because of a sore throat. Now I’m thinking salt may be the cause of the sore throat, esophagus issues, vomitting, sinus infections, and sneezing so hard it hurts my chest even more. I recently ate Ramen noodles which have a hi salt content and the tingling in my face/head began again. I also have arthritis in my neck so I wonder if this is the cause. I really have been so tired too and get energy in spurts, so I really havig been exercising to release the salts in my body. Salt outside the body such as an Ocean should work to remove any toxins in your body so that may be why you feel better too. Salt in the blood stream is another story. I know I was drinking green tea with apple cider vinegar and also too an apple cider vinegar bath and that helped. It feels like a steam room and will make u sweat. I’m headed to the store to pick some up now. Oh and also I realized a few weeks ago when I ate a potato chip when it touched my tongue, it burned my tongue. I also am a pescatarian (Vegetarian that only eats seafood) and I noticed almond milk was helping my condition so I looked at the label and realized its hi in potassium. Lately I have upped my vitam supplements to include Potassium, Zinc, B-12, garlc oil, ginger root and try to drink a glass of unsweetened almond milk by Blue Diamond whenever i can. I also noticed bumps on the back of my tongue called Circumvae Pappilate after doing a salt water Neti Pot rinse for my sinus infection, so its all starting to make sense. I think I’m allergic to salt and salt rinses alike. Maybe not an allergy per say but an intolerance for hi levels. I’m sure exercising will help to rid the salt once I minimize it and restore my energy levels. Hope this helped. Chest pain was scaring me and now it kind of makes sense after my EKG came back fine and the pain was recurring at various intervals. Thanks for sharing!
I can relate to your salt intolerance.I get tired, lethargic,aching joints aching ear on side of head on pillow, and puffy eyes and face in morning after salt.Cant have it at all.I am vegetarian,gluten intolerant.With hair mineral analysis test I have higher sodium than potassium.I exersize to sweat it out, drink heaps water, and use magnesium suppliment.I dont eat grains either.I will try the cider vinegar with meals.Maybe its a low stomach acid causing the whole thing. My mother also had the same problem.I also have high cholesterol.Have been on liver detox 3 months which helps.
Jai, I just wanted to comment on the saline nasal rinse. Supposedly they are supposed to be the best thing for reducing swelling of the nasal membranes due to a sinus infection, allergy or cold. But for salt sensitive people like us, it makes us feel worse. In my case, whenever I use a saline nasal wash, my sinuses swell even more, making it impossible to breathe through my nose. I wonder if there are any non-saline nasal rinses with an herbal base that would help to shrink swollen membranes. Oh and I think you’re on to something with the potassium. Apparently it can help to lower one’s sodium levels.
sounds more like hormone imbalaces and anxiety, might want to get your gallbladder checked as well. Also cut back on seafood. Try to get your protien from beans and whole grains , possibly eggs. See an endocrinologist and /or an allergist. Talk to the office staff and explain that you are self pay, Dr.’s often have discounted rates for pt.’s who arent covered by insurance and payment plans they are willing to set up , they may ask for the office visit up front but sometimes it’s not as expensive as you think it’s going to be.
Hi the same things happen to me. But add on top of it that I sneeze alot and the pain in chest I think is assoc with my heart cuz it palpitates and sort of beats out of my chest when I eat salt.
Very interesting that I too am vegetarian and gluten intolerant. Lately I started eating apple cider vinegar at meals and was able to digest fat better ( I have steatorrhea– malabsorption of fats) Not only was I not able to eat gluten but it had eventually become all grains!!! ALL! Plus beans due to the dissacharide sugars… (look up SCD diet) ANyway I was coping like that before the vinegar but after doing the vinegar for a couple weeks I tried to eat grains and voila!!! I was able to digest them without irritable bowel. Then I tried gluten and voila! I was able to digest them. I since googled the connection of fat malabsoption with gluten intolerance and found that fat malabsorption is the cause of celiacs. Don’t know why docs don’t tell you that. Itd be too easy.ANYWAY! what does this have to do with salt? Well, when I ate GRAINS again and gluten again I stopped having these severe reactions to salt!!!! I’d even had a theory that it was the fact that I didn’t digest grains that the dissacharide SUGARS (potassium) were not balancing out the sodium in diet cuz I wasn’t diegesting them at first and then couldn’t eat them at all!!! My theory seems to be correct. WHen I started digesting grains by resolving my fat malabsorption I could suddenly handle salt. The other day I ate some really spicy food at a restaurant that inflamed my gastritis and I went off grains for a few days with same amt iof salt and the salt problem returned. The other symptom I was getting witht ht esalt intolerance over yrs was that my skin doesn’t hold water and is very very dry. WHen I started digesting the dissacharide sugars I noticed my skin got a little better. Whew! Hope this helps!
Mary, I found your post very interesting as I think there is definitely a connection between the salt sensitivity and potassium. On a personal note, I notice when my sinuses have swollen up from eating something with even a slight amount of salt, if I eat several slices of watermelon, which is quite high in potassium, and of course water, that the nasal swelling seems to diminish and I can breathe better. I have been tested for gluten intolerance, but it was negative, though my doctor told me I should go gluten free anyway because it aggravates my chronic autoimmune thyroiditis. So I have really tried to eat mostly gluten free foods now, but what I have observed is that now, as was the case with you, I seem to have a reaction to even the gluten free grains and some legumes, as well as the salt. I will get acid reflux and my sinuses will swell almost immediately after eating. I am fearful that soon I won’t be able to eat ANY foods without some kind of bad reaction!
So, Mary, are you saying that the apple cider vinegar helped you to digest fats, which in turn helped you to digest the grains and so now you can handle salt. But, are you still gluten intolerant or are you now able to eat any and all grains? And has your salt sensitivity been eliminated as well? If so, that is wonderful!
I would like to give you Mary, and everyone else here on the site a link to another site about a product that supposedly helps to heal autoimmune diseases, which it seems that most of us have as our bodies seem to be hell-bent on destroying themselves one way or another! As I said I would LIKE to give you the link, but I don’t know if that is allowed on this site, so I will just tell you to use your search engines to find ‘DigestaCure’. I found this site the other night, and it just made so much sense to me. Mary, as I read the ingredients in this product based on the aloe plant, it made me think of your post about the dissacharide sugars. In essence, this company states that if our immune and digestive systems are restored to proper functioning, we will no longer suffer from the “self attacking self”. Of course they claim that their product DigestaCure will promote this healing, and the list of diseases it helps is long and includes celiac disease and acid reflux. I must say I am VERY tempted to purchase a bottle! So if any of you fellow salt sufferers are inclined to have a look see at this “sounds too good to be true” natural product, I would be curious to know what you think!
Salt allergy
You may be allergic to an ingredient in the food rather than the salt itself.
Allergies can cause your lips to become red and slightly swollen – so salt touching them would hurt.
If you are eating potato chips when this happens – check what they are cooked in & switch to a brand cooked in a different type of oil.
Yes you can be allergic to salt
I was exposed to commercial grade salt and now I go into anaphlaxic shock every time Iam exposed to sodium. This is life threating.
Commercial grade salt?
A Hames,
What do you mean by “commercial grade salt”?
Salt is a chemical, the only question is how pure it is.
Table salt is sodium chloride. Commercial grade table salt is also sodium chloride, yes?
Maybe the commercial grade salt you were exposed to was not table salt. There are thousands of types of salt (some edible, even essential to human health, others not).
Sodium itself is a metal, and a highly reactive metal at that. If you were exposed to pure sodium, you’d get burned.
Maybe you could clarify?
Well it is offical I have a sodium/iodine allergy/sensitivity. I was exposed to a massive amount iodized commercial grade salt no it was not table salt it was going to a chemical plant. I have been in intensive care several times. I walk around with two epi-pens. I have had enough doctors who think that they are God and know everything and lawyers who will sell their mothers to protect big companies. By the way your table salt contains poison sodium ferrocynide just a little to keep the salt from caking. There is nothing that can be done for me so I am told got any suggestions let me know. Sorry Ms Hames the anaphilaxis will probally kill you one day Good Luck. I can even go to the ocean it contains both salt and iodine. Try living with this, by the way my employer is not paying.
Excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis)
Every time I eat or drink something with salt ,I sewat exsesibly for 24 hours, also my bones hurt, specially my joints, and I urinate every 20 minutes, don’t know what to do anymore, the Drs say there is nothing wrong with me, I have gone several days without salt and I got a break from these simptoms, but in return I get horrible crumps in my legs, abdominal spasms, has anyone ever heard of something like this before? please help.
Need salt, but not too much
You need salt in your diet, but not too much.
First, try sea salt instead of regular table salt. It has less sodium, and more other necessary types of salt.
Secondly, reduce the amount of salt you eat, but don’t eliminate it entirely.
When I have a chance I will complete the salt article which will provide more definitive guidelines about salt.
Hope that helps.
This is not true either. Sea salt has the same amount of sodium. The only difference is that sea salt has a different taste due to its collection and is related to the natural impurities found in it versus regular table salt.
Just limit salt in general. All kinds. Including onion salt, garlic salt, and lemon pepper.
Table salt is 100% sodium chloride. Sea salt is about 98% sodium chloride. So sea salt does have less sodium, but not significantly less, not enough to make any real difference.
So Jessica is right, if you are going to limit salt, that includes sea salt.
There are low sodium salts, e.g. “no salt” and other brand names. They are salt, but not 100% sodium chloride. Instead they use a high proportion of potassium chloride, another type of salt (chemical definition, not culinary definition).
I too sweat excessivly for 24 hours, my bones hurt as well, have osteo in my neck and it gets very painful. Only recetly I have figured out that it appears to be the salt. How can one get diagnosed or find out, I am about at my wits end with the sweating. I would so appreciate if someone could help.
I’m very careful about how
I’m very careful about how much salt I use at home. Whenever I go out to eat I get a headache, extremely dry eyes, stuffy nose, my upper lip feels swollen, sometimes even like a brain fog. I’m thinking that it’s too much salt at one time.
Could be MSG
Not to disagree with you, because you could be right …
Another thing to watch out for is MSG. This is very commonly used in a lot of restaurants, and has a bad effect on a lot of people.
Next time you go out to east, request ‘no MSG’ and see how you feel afterwords.
Do please leave another comment next time you try that out.
Reduce your salt intake
Experts recommend 4-5g of salt per day.
Many people take double this amount each day.
Cut your salt intake by about half and see what happens.
If you experience muscle cramps then it probably means you have cut back too far on your salt intake.
WRONG! This is not true. The American Heart Association and American Dietetic Association recommend no more than 2,300mg or (2.3 grams) per day with many now leaning to 1,500mg or (1.5 grams) per day.
Jessica, when you say “wrong”, what are you referring too?
Experts may not agree on the correct salt intake. The fact is, everyone had different needs according to their body type, level of physical exercise, how much they sweat, and myriad other factors.
Salt deficiency is a serious (but rare) problem. I know people (including myself) who have suffered from it.
Too much salt will kill you slowly; too little will kill you quickly.
can i be allergic to salt
iv been geting rashes on my skin and it bernds i just need to know if i am allergic to salt
also iv been to the doc and he said u cant be allergic to salt whot do u think i should do nexts
Salt is essential to life
Salt is essential to life. You wouldn’t survive without it. Ever heard the expression “worth his salt”?
I have heard of conditions where too much salt can cause problems, besides the well-known problems with hypertension, and the less well known problems with glaucoma.
Have you seen a dermatologist? They specialize in skin problems.
If you think you have allergies, see an allergist.
Did your doctor make any suggestions?
no
no he did not i just need to know if you can be algic to salt have you ever herd of people beeing algic to salt
and my lip swels up when i eat stuffe with salt in exspcile with high grams of salt need to know what to do nexts.
That has to do with paying soldiers during the roman empire. they were paid in salt (sal). That’s where salary comes from.
salt allergy
eating salt in any foods makes me my skin very itchy and runs in my family. My sisters doctor tested her for many allergies and conformed that she is definitely allergic to salt. I was a huge eater of vegemite as a child and a friend told me that her naturapath said vegemite with its high salt and high yeast has caused a lot of people to have systemic candita. i am going to get tested at the doctors soon. Sugar also makes my skin dry and itchy but not as bad. I think i need to purefy the waster i drink in case of salt mineral content.
over the last 3 weeks iv come up in a really bad rash, and itches like mad when i sleep, i normally train a lot and never suffer any rashes as my water is always flushed through sweating, now iv stopped training iv got this rash, and my skin is very salty, im sure its salt thats causing it from all the junk food iv been eating.
Salt makes my skin dry, especially the bottom of my feet become rough. My eyes dry out and the eyelids stick to the eyes. My eyelids are almost always swollen, some days worse than others. However, salt exasberates the problem. The lids are so swollen that it looks like water pockets, they have creases and lay on the eyelashes when really swollen. I have stayed away from salt for a period of a week, then do something dumb, like yesterday. I bought riceworks ricechips – sweet chili which are wonderful. i ate the whole bag and couldn’t open my eyes this morning for about 15 minutes. For those of you with food allergies of any type, if you havent heard of it, research “leaky gut”. Leaky gut is known to cause a majority of food allergies and can be cured. I’m working on mine. There’s lots of info on the internet about it. Read and decide for yourself. Today’s a new day and I am going salt free. good luck to you all.
Hi Paul,
I am wondering if you are still experiencing the problems you listed on the comments regarding being salt sensitive. I too train a lot and thought I was a healthy person with extreme salt sensitivities. I found out some very interesting information from my doctor when I complained about this to him. After getting a lot of blood work done, he has come up with something that may be the issue to your problem as well. Please contact me and I will let you know what I have discovered.
Hi Lori,
Can you please email me with your findings as I am exactly the same!
Many thanks
Julie
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Hi would you mind sharing the finding from your doctor with me? I too have salt allergy and have been all over the US to allergists and they can’t find out why. Thank you, Mary
Hi Lori,
Please e-mail me and let me know what your doctor found out about your problem with salt. I am having this problem for over a year, and no doctors can find what is wrong with me
Thank you so much,
Fred
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hi lori, sorry iv only just seen your reply, sorry didnt get back sooner, what did you find out
Hi Lori,
I too am very salt sensitive. Would you mind sharing with me your findings based on your bloodwork and doc visits. Based on my own research there is a correlation between salt sensitivity and mold exposure which increases risk of candida. Apparently, the mold damages cell membranes causing them to become leaky where excess fluid will not stay inside the cell. This in turn causes fluid build up outside the cells and is why we tend to swell so much after too much salt. Let me know your findings, as I have been on quite a journey with mold, yeast, and multiple food sensitivities. I will be happy to share more. Lisa
can u be allergic two sal and if so what are the sines
evre time i eat somethink with salt i get rashis and chest panes also i have been to the docder and he said that u cunt be allergic but i whont to know if u can be allergic to salt