Fact-Checking Pastor Chris Oyakhilome’s Claims About Salt

Fact-Checking Pastor Chris Oyakhilome’s Claims About Salt

An X user posted a video of popular religious teacher, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, who claims in his teaching that people should eat more salt, stating that medical practitioners repackage salt in the form of medicine and sell it back to the masses. Posted on May 4, 2025, the 3 minutes 56 seconds video has the caption ”One of the most dangerous messages by a Pastor 😳. Pastor Chris said this. Watch till the end and share. Shocking!”

As of the time this report was published, the video had amassed over 1.9 million views, over 6,600 replies, retweets, quotes, likes and bookmarks. In the comment section, @DrMel_ wrote “If you still attend Christ embassy after all this man’s said on that pulpit especially during Covid, I’m judging you honestly” while @iamlocalman_ said “My question is , are there no doctors in his congregation? Or all of them Suddenly forgets what they studied to be facts all because a man of god says otherwise cus normally then supposed scratch am sharply say this him talk no follow🤔”.

VERIFICATION

Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, the founder of Loveworld Incorporated, popularly known as Christ Embassy delivered the sermon on salt on May 4, 2025. The sermon was live broadcast on ‘Global Service with Pastor Chris.’ The teaching on salt was drawn from the Mark chapter 9 verse 50, the King James Version, “Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.”

What is the approved quantity of salt to be consumed daily?

The amount of dietary salt (sodium chloride) consumed is an important determinant of blood pressure levels and of hypertension and overall cardiovascular risk. A salt intake of less than 5 grams (approximately 2g sodium) per person per day is recommended by WHO for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases, the leading cause of death globally. 

The World Health Organization data on salt intake from various countries indicate that most populations are consuming much more salt than recommended. In many high income countries, approximately 75 percent of salt in the diet comes from processed foods and meals prepared outside the home. In many low- and middle-income countries, most sodium consumption comes from salt added at home in cooking and at the table or through condiments such as fish sauce and soy sauce.

Should People Eat More Salt Than The Recommended Quantity?

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA, the human body needs a small amount of sodium to work properly, but too much sodium can be bad for your health. Diets higher in sodium are associated with increased risk of developing high blood pressure, which is a major cause of stroke and heart disease.

The UK’s National Health Service, NHS, also confirmed that adults should have no more than 6g of salt a day (around 1 level teaspoon). This includes the salt that’s already in our food and the salt added during and after cooking, and this is represented in the chart below:

Source: NHS

Amanda Meadows, a clinical dietician at Houston Methodist says that “the sodium found in salt is an important electrolyte needed for muscle contractions, nerve impulses and balancing hydration in the body,” adding that “this makes sodium an essential mineral, but your body only needs so much of it. Many people eat more salt than the body needs and, over time, there are consequences to this.” 

Meadows went further to explain that “If your kidneys can't eliminate the salt you're taking in from your diet, sodium starts to build up in your body, and when you're holding on to more sodium, your body tries to dilute it with water, increasing your blood volume and causing you to retain fluid.” She stressed that “as your blood volume increases, your heart has to work harder to pump blood throughout your body, this then increases pressure in your arteries. What's more is that when the heart is pumping harder, it places pressure on the vessels in every organ, including the kidneys.”

Dr. Ibrahim Archereng, with the Specialist Hospital, Gombe, said that “consuming too much salt is not good for one's health. It’s very risky and has serious adverse effects like High Blood Pressure, Stroke, Heart Disease, Kidney Disease and Kidney Stones.” He reaffirmed that “the recommended quantity of salt intake daily should not exceed 1 tablespoon”.

Is Salt Being Repackaged By Pharmaceutical Companies And Sold As Medicine?

Pharm Chinaza Onwubiko, with the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, UPTH, stated that “the chemical name for table salt is Sodium Chloride, NaCl, used for cooking and food preservation, and it usually contains additives like iodine and anti-caking agents. But the Pharmaceutical-Grade Sodium Chloride, also with the chemical name, Sodium Chloride, NaCl, known by pharmacists as USP-grade or BP-grade is much purer and free from impurities and additives like iodine or anti-caking agents.” 

She added that “this form of salt is what is used in fluids (e.g., saline solution), nasal sprays, eye drops, injections and infusions and oral rehydration solutions”. She further hinted that “Yes, sodium chloride is used in formulating medicines but No, it’s not the same as regular table salt you use in the kitchen”.

Drugs are often made into their chemical salt forms to enhance how the drug dissolves, boost its absorption into your bloodstream, and increase the effectiveness. Without absorption, a drug cannot have a therapeutic effect, so some forms require salt. Many medications also need a salt attached to be water-soluble. But, this salt is different from the one used in making edibles.

CONCLUSION 

The First claim made by Pastor Chris Oyakhilome that people should eat more salt is FALSE. Medical research confirms that the human body needs less amount of salt daily and much intake of salt can lead to high blood pressure, stroke, etc. While his second claim that medical practitioners repackage salt in the form of medicine and sell it back to the masses is MISLEADING. Yes, sodium chloride is used in formulating medicines but it is not the same as regular table salt used in making edible meals or drinks.

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