Push needed to reduce salt intake and protect lives

Push needed to reduce salt intake and protect lives


It’s time to get serious about salt.

The World Health Organization has issued a report on global salt intake and the news is not good.

We are not on track to achieve the global target of reducing our sodium intake 30% by 2025. We’re not even close.

While it’s true that we need sodium to live, we don’t need nearly as much as we’re getting. Growing evidence shows links between high sodium intake and increased risk for health conditions like heart disease, stroke, obesity and osteoporosis.

Around the world, average salt intake is estimated to be nearly 11 grams, or more than two and a half teaspoons, a day, which is well over the recommended 5 grams or less per day. Five grams is a little more than one teaspoon.

The nearly 200 countries that make up the WHO [W-H-O] had committed to working toward salt intake reductions through mandatory food-packaging rules, but so far, just nine countries have a comprehensive set of policies to reduce sodium intake.

If all WHO member states used their power to discourage salt consumption, it’s estimated that 7 million lives might be saved by 2030.

The United States is one of 43 countries that have implemented some of the suggested policies.

It can be tricky for consumers, who may scan sodium content on labels of foods they expect to be salty, like potato chips or crackers.

But cereal, instant pudding, salad dressing and even plain bread can be loaded with it.

Scaling back our massive salt consumption isn’t all about the strong arm of government, of course. Some of it must rest with that other arm — the one tossing items into the shopping cart.

 

Related Episodes