Celebrity nutritionist Pooja Makhija has found herself at the center of a medical controversy after her unconventional views on salt intake were sharply challenged by a senior doctor from AIIMS, New Delhi. The debate emerged from comments Makhija made during a YouTube podcast with host Raj Shamani.
Nutritionist's Controversial Salt Theory
Pooja Makhija, known for working with Bollywood stars including Alia Bhatt, Kareena Kapoor Khan, and Shahid Kapoor, presented a surprising perspective on sodium consumption. According to her official website, she has helped clients lose over 125,000 kilograms collectively.
Makhija questioned the common medical practice of administering saline to emergency patients, stating that ambulance crews often give saline containing 9,000mg of sodium without knowing the patient's medical history. She further claimed that sometimes a 'push' of two saline units delivers 18,000 milligrams of sodium.
"Your body requires sodium to restart the water that is being held, the kidneys to filter, and the heart to pump. Sodium is not the culprit. It was demonised so that sugar could shine and diseases could flourish," Makhija asserted during the podcast.
Medical Expert Counters Claims
Dr. Arihant Jain, Senior Resident in Emergency Medicine and Trauma at AIIMS, New Delhi, strongly dismissed the nutritionist's interpretation of medical procedures. He clarified that saline serves to replace lost body fluids rather than raise sodium levels.
The doctor explained that heart attack patients might actually avoid fluids since their bodies can retain excess water. He also corrected Makhija's understanding of the 'push' procedure, noting that it refers to diluted epinephrine where saline acts merely as a diluting agent.
"The information about salt shared in this video isn't accurate or evidence-based. Salt is definitely harmful for certain groups of individuals," Dr. Jain stated in his YouTube response.
Potential Risks of Misinformation
Dr. Jain expressed concern about the impact of such claims on vulnerable patients. He noted that newer medical protocols often prefer Ringer's lactate over saline for emergency cases.
"Misinformation like this can be harmful, especially for certain patient groups who might take such advice seriously," the AIIMS doctor warned. He emphasized that incorrect information about salt and saline could potentially put patients with existing health risks in danger.
Meanwhile, Makhija had advised listeners to use iodised salt for thyroid support and suggested placing a crystal of rock salt on the tongue before drinking water, arguing that modern water filters remove essential minerals.
