Salt has been used therapeutically to quell preeclampsia.
As a preeclampsia baby myself, this topic is a personal interest of mine. Preeclampsia can be a very serious condition during pregnancy, marked by high blood pressure, swelling, and a decline in liver and kidney function.
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Today, let's talk about another potential factor involved: salt. This mineral is SO important for normal development. You might be wondering how this relates to preeclampsia...I’ll let a few experts weigh in.
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In “From PMS to Menopause,” Dr. Ray Peat writes “Freud wasn't the first physician who grasped the idea that the baby's health depends on the mother's, and that her health depends on good nutrition...(In 1834, J. Lever recognized that malnutrition and restricted salt intake could cause eclampsia. "Cases of puerperal convulsions," Guy's Hospital Reports vol. 1, series 2, 495-517, 1843.)”
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Dr. Tom Brewer, one of the authorities on toxemia (the old term for preeclampsia) talks about the importance of salt in his book “What Every Pregnant Woman Should Know.” He cites research done by Dr. Margaret Robinson in 1958 that discovered salt restriction led to “nearly three times more damaged placentas, two and a half times more [preeclampsia] and twice the number of infant deaths.”
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In “Real Food for Pregnancy,” Lily Nichols, R.D., cites the same research that says women consuming higher levels of salt had lower incidences of preeclampsia, and women who added salt to their diet were also able to reduce their blood pressure and swelling. She elaborates on the researchers’ recommendations, which helped many women “spontaneously recover” from preeclampsia, as long as they were consistent until delivery.
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Of course, as you’ve seen from my other posts on this topic, preeclampsia is complicated and there can be many other factors beyond salt intake. That said, getting enough salt stands on its own in terms of importance for normal growth and development of baby.
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My favorite salt is @crucialfour (10% off w/ code: INNATE)
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Some food for thought!
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Not medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider
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This is not medical advice. Always consult your healthcare professional before pursuing any changes to your personal healthcare regime.
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References
Brewer, G.S. Brewer, T. (1977, 1985). What Every Pregnant Woman Should Know: The Truth About Diet and Drugs in Pregnancy. Middlesex, England: Penguin Books.
Fallon, S. Cowan, T.S. (2013, 2015). The Nourishing Traditions Book of Baby and Child Care. Washington, D.C.: NewTrends Publishing.
Nichols, L. (2018). Real Food for Pregnancy. United States.
Peat, R. Eclampsia in the Real Organism: A Paradigm of General Distress Applicable in Infants, Adults, Etc. Retrieved from: http://raypeat.com/articles/aging/eclampsia.shtml.
Peat, R. (1997). From PMS to Menopause. Eugene, OR.
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