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27 reviews for:
The Salt Fix: Why Experts Got It All Wrong - And How Eating More Might Save Your Life
James DiNicolantonio
3.64 AVERAGE
27 reviews for:
The Salt Fix: Why Experts Got It All Wrong - And How Eating More Might Save Your Life
James DiNicolantonio
3.64 AVERAGE
T Book Review: The Salt Fix by Dr. James DiNicolantonio
I found The Salt Fix to be an insightful and provocative read, especially in its opening chapters. The first four chapters move quickly, delivering fascinating ideas about salt’s misunderstood role in health. Dr. DiNicolantonio presents a solid case early on, challenging conventional wisdom and providing a fresh perspective that keeps you turning the pages.
However, the book starts to lose some of its momentum around Chapter 3. While dense and at times redundant, I understand why it was necessary—laying down the scientific foundation to support his broader argument. Still, a bit more editing there wouldn’t have hurt.
Things get trickier by the time you hit Chapter 5. This is where I began noticing a subtle shift: the writing starts to infer stronger conclusions than what the cited studies actually support. While the earlier chapters felt tight and well-evidenced, the later ones lean heavier on implication, with less clear-cut support. This becomes more apparent in Chapter 6, where much of the evidence he references comes from Wistar rat studies—something that wasn’t made immediately clear in the build-up. By then, the human implications feel overstated, and frankly, Chapter 8 could almost be skipped entirely without losing much value.
Overall, The Salt Fix is worth reading for its early insights and for encouraging critical thinking about salt’s place in our diets. But it does require some discernment from the reader, especially as the book progresses and the line between robust evidence and bold inference starts to blur. And by the end of Chapter 7, you’d have a firm understanding that increased salt is cure-all. It was a disappointing ending to an otherwise strong start.
I found The Salt Fix to be an insightful and provocative read, especially in its opening chapters. The first four chapters move quickly, delivering fascinating ideas about salt’s misunderstood role in health. Dr. DiNicolantonio presents a solid case early on, challenging conventional wisdom and providing a fresh perspective that keeps you turning the pages.
However, the book starts to lose some of its momentum around Chapter 3. While dense and at times redundant, I understand why it was necessary—laying down the scientific foundation to support his broader argument. Still, a bit more editing there wouldn’t have hurt.
Things get trickier by the time you hit Chapter 5. This is where I began noticing a subtle shift: the writing starts to infer stronger conclusions than what the cited studies actually support. While the earlier chapters felt tight and well-evidenced, the later ones lean heavier on implication, with less clear-cut support. This becomes more apparent in Chapter 6, where much of the evidence he references comes from Wistar rat studies—something that wasn’t made immediately clear in the build-up. By then, the human implications feel overstated, and frankly, Chapter 8 could almost be skipped entirely without losing much value.
Overall, The Salt Fix is worth reading for its early insights and for encouraging critical thinking about salt’s place in our diets. But it does require some discernment from the reader, especially as the book progresses and the line between robust evidence and bold inference starts to blur. And by the end of Chapter 7, you’d have a firm understanding that increased salt is cure-all. It was a disappointing ending to an otherwise strong start.
informative
slow-paced
This was one of the recommended books I came upon in my keto/carb/sugar reading. It is a lot to wrap my mind around. It is the exact opposite of what I have been told my whole life -- even by my friend's father, who is a doctor. (When I was a teenager, he was the first person to really explain to me about the dangers of salt. Also, the dangers of too much caffeine during pregnancy, which is why I didn't partake both times I was pregnant.) It is logical to assume that sugar is bad. Look what it does to your teeth. To then say that salt is good -- it defies logic. I also found that a lot of numbers and big words were thrown at me in this book. I am not a numbers gal. It might not have helped that while I was reading this, we have been preparing to go back to work. I have been reading back-to-work manuals from the Nova Scotia Dental Assoc. -- and I do mean plural. There is the newest and longest sitting in my inbox while I type this. In saying all that, I may not have had my whole head wrapped around this book as part of my head is preoccupied with work and how that is going to go. While I know that we have all the necessary precautions in place to keep everyone safe, it is difficult knowing I work where there is the highest risk of infection.
I continue my reading journey.
I continue my reading journey.
2 ⭐️ - this book could have easily been half the length. information felt overly repetitive and some of the correlated results the author pulled claims from felt… out there. for example, he suggests that eating more salt may help cure addiction for drug addicts. huh?
Good book. Informative and interesting. Dr. DiNicolantonio gives good insight into how important salt is for health and how we've gone astray with the bad advice to cut back on sodium.
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
Fabulous! Best medical book I've read in awhile.
This book casts serious doubt on the prevailing dogma that salt is the enemy, particularly in hypertension and cardiovascular disease. The studies (as in several other areas of prevailing medical dogma) have long been conflicting at best, and pointing in the exact opposite direction at worst. The author did address some of his theories as to why that might be, but I paid less attention to this part than I did to his actual arguments. As a naturopathic doctor, this has already affected advice I've given to patients, and has given me new treatment insight in a few resistant cases. It's also changed my own practice prior to long workouts and sauna sessions--pretty sure I've been low in salt for awhile, myself!
After listening to the audiobook, I also purchased the kindle version just so I could gain access to his bibliography. Highly recommended.
This book casts serious doubt on the prevailing dogma that salt is the enemy, particularly in hypertension and cardiovascular disease. The studies (as in several other areas of prevailing medical dogma) have long been conflicting at best, and pointing in the exact opposite direction at worst. The author did address some of his theories as to why that might be, but I paid less attention to this part than I did to his actual arguments. As a naturopathic doctor, this has already affected advice I've given to patients, and has given me new treatment insight in a few resistant cases. It's also changed my own practice prior to long workouts and sauna sessions--pretty sure I've been low in salt for awhile, myself!
After listening to the audiobook, I also purchased the kindle version just so I could gain access to his bibliography. Highly recommended.
As someone with personal experience with inadequate salt consumption, the contents of this book reflect my personal experiences. Highly recommend.