This is a book of evidence for and against the use of refined table salt. It tries to be impartial, but the evidence is overwhelmingly against. The author advises the reader to forego the use of refined salt.

But then he praises the use of unrefined salt. He calls sea salt a “natural organic form” of salt, valuable for its trace minerals. Yes it is natural, but is it organic? Not at all! According to the dictionary definition, “organic” means “derived from living matter.” Sea salt is not derived from living matter. It is as inorganic as any other kind of salt. Thus its trace minerals are inorganic and unavailable to the human body. As such, they can do no good.

Tobe does not seem to understand the difference between salt and sodium—the bio-available sodium found in natural foods. He is not clear on the concept of bio-availability. Trace minerals need to be in organic form to be available to the body. They need to be from living matter, plants or animals. Salt, including sea salt, is inorganic matter foreign to the body. He blames commercial processing for the harm that salt does, but the real fault is in its inorganic nature.

In two chapters he discusses evidence linking salt to various diseases: cancer, heart disease, hypertension, circulatory disorders, dropsy, kidney disease, etc. The evidence is substantial, more than anecdotal. In another chapter he discusses salt licks, concluding that they do not exist in nature.

He includes a chapter about medicinal uses of salt, but admits that some may be only folklore. Salt is useful as an antiseptic, de-worming agent, emetic, due to its toxicity to living things. Salt is used as an insecticide because it is toxic to insects. And as a food preservative because it is toxic to bacteria that cause spoilage.

Half of this book consists of salt-free recipes, but eliminating salt from one’s diet is not so complicated as to require recipes. The way to eliminate salt is to eliminate it. It is as simple as that, though for some people it may require will power. The recipes are for salt addicts in transition.

A good discussion, though flawed. ( )