DEAR DR. GOTT: Your recent column in the Wisconsin State Journal said that 1 teaspoon of salt contained 230 milligrams of sodium. My salt containers says 1/4 teaspoon contains 590 milligrams, so 1 teaspoon would have 2.36 grams, 10 times what your column said and more than the recommended daily intake. I hope that you will print a correction.
DEAR DR. GOTT: Wow. After years of good advice, you really blew it today. In your article on water-softener salt, you mentioned 1 teaspoon of salt contains 230 milligrams of sodium. Boy, are you way off. According to my sources, 1 teaspoon is equal to 2,000 milligrams or more! As you know, this is a huge issue in our society, and I’m sure you will set this right as you always do. Sign me a loyal reader, CPR instructor and home-care nurse that frequently copies your articles for home-care patient teaching.
DEAR DR. GOTT: In a recent article, you wrote that 1 teaspoon of salt contains 230 milligrams of sodium. The salt that I purchase at Wal-Mart contains 590 milligrams of sodium in 1/4 teaspoon. Morton’s Lite Salt has 290 milligrams of sodium in 1/4 teaspoon. Could you please tell me what salt has only 230 milligrams per teaspoon? My husband is on Aldactone owing to cirrhosis, and we had to stop using the Morton Lite Salt because of the potassium content.
DEAR DR. GOTT: I hope that this was a misprint in today’s Ventura County Star. You said 1 teaspoon of salt had 230 milligrams of sodium. There are actually 590 milligrams of sodium in 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Also, you felt that water softeners were not a hazard to a low-salt diet. This is not the case in my community. My husband has Meniere’s disease, and when he stopped drinking softened tap water, his symptoms were greatly improved.
DEAR DR. GOTT: Your estimate of the amount of sodium (230 milligrams) in a teaspoon of salt is low by a factor of 10.
DEAR READERS: Whew, have I been caught! My original column should have stated 2,300 milligrams, as several of you pointed out, not 230. Somewhere along the way, a zero was dropped, and I owe everyone an apology for the misprint.
While many products and additives may state they are “low salt,” it is extremely important to read labels to ensure this element is not taken in excess. For example, a can of soup is commonly very high in sodium to begin with, and the can may contain 2-1/2 servings, which can be deceiving. In the matter of cirrhosis, kidney disease and congestive heart failure, sodium can lead to a serious buildup of excess fluid.
A healthful, nutritious diet is important for everyone, whether dealing with a medical condition or not. And the best resource is a personal physician who knows your full medical history and can advise accordingly.
While we all like to think we are perfect, I am the first to admit I do make mistakes (and typographical errors). I thank those readers who brought this issue to my attention. I’ll make every effort to do better. Stay tuned, but keep those corrections coming.
Readers who would like additional information on dietary supplements should send for my Health Report “Vitamins and Minerals.” Address your request to Newsletter, P.O. Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092-0167. Include a self-addressed stamped No. 10 envelope and a $2 check or money order, and be sure to mention the title or print an order form off my website at www.AskDrGottMD.com.
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