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It\u2019s well known that unnecessary salt intake is associated with high blood pressure in the adult population.\u00a0 However, there is now evidence that supports excessive salt consumption will influence blood pressure, respiratory illnesses such as asthma, stomach cancer and obesity in children as well.<\/p>\n
Although the older population and certain ethnic groups are at immediate risk, the youth are at the greatest risk of health-related problems due to salt intake.\u00a0 Salt intake is similar to other cumulative risk factors such as obesity, tobacco and alcohol use \u2013 the longer you abuse it, the greater the risk.<\/p>\n
Cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of death worldwide totaling 17.3 million deaths per year according to the World Health Organization (WHO).\u00a0 Salt intake is directly linked to the main cause of strokes, heart attacks and heart failures.\u00a0 It\u2019s also known to produce kidney disease, kidney stones, obesity and exacerbating the symptoms of asthma, Meniere\u2019s disease, Alzheimer\u2019s disease and diabetes.<\/p>\n
The World Action on Salt and Health (WASH) has been created in efforts to curb this global catastrophe. WASH will be holding it’s global World Salt Awareness Week on Monday 11th \u2013 Sunday 17th March 2013. The \u2018Less Salt Please\u2019 theme will show how everybody, including chefs, can use less salt and still enjoy the great flavor of food.<\/p>\n
The overall aim is to bring a reduction in salt intake throughout the world to the World Health Organization\u2019s recommended maximum intake of 5g per day.\u00a0 This can be achieved by reducing the amount of salt in processed foods as well as salt added during cooking and at the table. However, most people that eat too much salt don\u2019t even realize that as much as 75 % of the salt that we eat is already in the food that we buy.<\/p>\n
Locating hidden salt<\/b><\/p>\n
For starters, we must understand the importance of reading and understanding food labels to help us select low salt or sodium options.\u00a0 Food companies primarily add salt to increase the shelf life, not the nutritional value of their products.\u00a0 Salt is a well-known preserving agent for a variety of meats, fish and convenience foods.<\/p>\n
Checking food labels allows one to compare a variety of brands and products that are lower in salt. An important consideration is the serving size of the food selected.\u00a0 Many food labels state the amount of salt per serving.\u00a0 If there are three servings in a container, you must take the total sodium and multiply by three.<\/p>\n
Foods high in salt have more than 1.5g salt \/ 100g (or 0.6g sodium \/ 100g)<\/p>\n
Foods low in salt have less than 0.3g salt \/100g (or 0.1g sodium \/ 100g)<\/p>\n
An informed consumer can take control of the amount of salt in personal food preparation by simply looking at the food label. However, counting one\u2019s salt intake is difficult if one chooses to eat out in restaurants, cafes and takeaway establishments.\u00a0 You may be surprised to learn that a lot of the food industry serves salt-laden, unhealthy, preservative-rich foods.<\/p>\n
Tips to reduce salt when dining out<\/b><\/p>\n
The best way to reduce one\u2019s salt intake is to ask a lot of questions when ordering.\u00a0 Ask about sauces, marinades and rubs as they are likely loaded with excess salt.\u00a0 Also look for the words \u2018salt\u2019 \u2018salted\u2019, \u2018smoked\u2019 or \u2018cured\u2019 in the name. It\u2019s important to know what kind of meat is in the dish as well.\u00a0 Processed meats and fish such as ham, bacon, salami, sausages, pate, smoked fish have the highest amount of salt.<\/p>\n
Takeaway restaurants are often the worst as they simply assemble their foods from boxes versus preparing fresh foods from scratch. It\u2019s important to cut back on sauces such as soy sauce, ketchup, brown sauce, pickled condiments and salad dressings as these can be very high in salt. Take it easy on the cheeses, olives, deli meats, and croutons in salads and ask for salad dressings on the side, if at all.<\/p>\n
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It\u2019s important to stick to lean meats and fresh vegetables that are grilled, baked or roasted.\u00a0 Ask for steamed vegetables with a squeeze of lemon instead of sauces or additional cheeses.\u00a0 And, always remember to taste one\u2019s food before adding any additional salt.<\/p>\n
Shopping and cooking with less salt<\/b><\/p>\n
Convenience foods are also found in grocery stores.\u00a0 Pizza, pasties, ready-made meals, canned, boxed and even certain frozen foods should be closely looked at.\u00a0 Snacks such as crisps, salted nuts, popcorn and processed snack meats commonly sneak into the shopping cart.<\/p>\n
Look for fresh, tinned or frozen meats and vegetables with no added salt or preservatives.\u00a0 Cooking these food items from scratch will have significantly less salt than dining out or eating assembly food from a box.\u00a0 When preparing fresh foods, avoid adding salt while cooking or serving.<\/p>\n
A food can be salty without tasting the salt<\/b><\/p>\n
Breakfast cereals, soups, sauces, ready meals, breads, cheeses, cakes and biscuits often do not taste salty at all.\u00a0 One or two servings of these foods often contain more salt that is recommended for adults and especially children. The consumer is completely unaware due to the amount of sugar that suppresses the saltiness.<\/p>\n
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Taste buds eventually get used to high levels of salt and it\u2019s common for one not to notice the saltiness of some foods. When people eat less salt their taste buds become more sensitive again. Within a week, foods that were once craved may not have the same appeal.<\/p>\n
Young and old need to worry about salt<\/b><\/p>\n
Eating too much salt can raise blood pressure at any age. The global trends of obesity, diabetes, and diminished lifestyle factors such as poor diet and physical inactivity will increase the risk of developing heart disease earlier and earlier.\u00a0 Children are often victims of not knowing what they are eating.<\/p>\n
Parents are more likely to feed their children processed foods and takeaways in our high-paced, busy life. Television, video games, computers, cellular phones and other technologies are getting our children sick, overweight and overmedicated. We often classify salty foods as treats and give them to our children for a job well done.<\/p>\n
Cutting back on salt may be difficult at first but within a few weeks one\u2019s taste buds will adjust and you\u2019ll taste the same amount of flavor, with less salt!\u00a0 The important item is consistently improving one\u2019s health over time.\u00a0 No one\u2019s perfect but striving to reduce one\u2019s salt intake will improve quality of life, health outcomes and overall longevity.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s still a good idea to cut salt intake even if you\u2019re lean, healthy and don\u2019t have high blood pressure. Blood pressure often increases with age and additionally a high salt diet is linked to osteoporosis, stomach cancer, kidney disease and obesity.\u00a0 Don\u2019t wait to develop a health condition to try to reverse it. Prevention is the key.<\/p>\n