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Loading...A Sneaky Culprit of Disease and Stroke
- Megan, selected from Green Options
- January 20, 2012
- 3:03 pm
- 125 comments
The British Medical Journal recently published an analysis on the effects of too much salt in our diets.
According to their research, which looked at 13 studies from 1966 to 2008:
High salt intake is associated with significantly increased risk of stroke and total cardiovascular disease. Because of imprecision in measurement of salt intake, these effect sizes are likely to be underestimated. These results support the role of a substantial population reduction in salt intake for the prevention of cardiovascular disease.
Yikes!
Over at Food Politics, Marion Nestle points to the study’s commentary which calls for more regulation in the food industry. Since “nearly 80 percent of salt enters the diet through processed and pre-prepared foods,” they argue that regulation is the best way to keep salt from sneaking into our diets so much (you can sign this petition to support sodium-reduction policies).
Is regulation the answer? Sure, it would be great to see restaurants and food companies step up and consider the health impacts of the food they’re producing. I’m just not sure it’s something that legislation alone can address.
One of the big problems, as Nestle points out, is that:
…the taste for salt depends on how much is eaten. On a low salt diet, even lightly salted foods taste salty. But if you are used to eating a lot of salt, it takes even more to taste salty. So the object needs to be to reduce salt in the diet across the board.
If we’re going to reduce salt intake across the board, consumers need to have a clear idea of salt’s health impacts. Education is key.
Not only do folks need to know the risks, they need solutions. If processed- and restaurant foods are the major culprits, it sounds like home cooked meals might be the answer.
Preparing home-cooked meals makes it so much easier to monitor how much salt is going into your food. Why wait for regulation when you can take charge of your diet in your very own kitchen? Here are three low-sodium recipes to get you started in reducing your risk of stroke and cardiovascular disease:
White Bean Soup with Greens and Rosemary
Autumn Vegetable Stew with Kale
Ginger Couscous Primavera
Do you guys have any favorite low-salt recipes? Share away in the comments!
Help Limit America’s Sodium Intake! Tell the FDA and FSIS to support policies that help reduce our collective consumption of salt.
Read more: Diet & Nutrition, Food, Health, Heart & Vascular Disease, processed foods, salt, sodium intake, stroke, total cardiovascular disease
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people are talking
thanks a lot
Noted..
Noted.
Having been a boxer owner I loved this!
cool! thx.
125 comments
+ add your ownThanks
Very informative article.
Thanks
It's a huge problem, as it's sneaked into so many foods. Processed foods that is. I live in Turkey and I have never seen a nation who eat so much salt and sugar. They even have sugar festivals for children.(seker bayram) you have to educate your friends in order that your child doesn't get massive doses of both. I ate a chocolate brownie last night and the first thing I realised was that it was chocolaty and very salty.the first time I bought pickled beetroots here I could not believe the amount of salt in the mixture, it literally burned my mouth. In the western world, it is also a problem and mostly added to breakfast cereals and any processed food and as a result peoples taste has changed. In fact it kills your taste buds. If you do a detox diet or fast for long periods, you find that you get our taste back and need so little salt before it burns your mouth. It's a huge problem and should definitely be controlled strongly, and especially in childrens foods.
i always try to watch my sodium intake and limit processed foods. btw, why is the petition now closed?
We're oversalted.
Read labels...especially the portion size vs the daily %. You will be amazed at how much sodium is in food. Instead of blindly letting my husband take diuretics (as prescribed the Dr.) I changed my cooking habits to low/no sodium. It's made a world of difference to his blood pressure readings and he feels a lot better.
Hello. My name is Kathy, and I am a salt-aholic. I realized I had a problem when I began salting pre packaged soups and chips. Really though, I need to cut back. Any healthy salt substitutes out there?
Thanks for the article.
Thanks.
Please sign my petition: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/give-a-pitbull-a-chance/
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