Government advising Americans to eat far less salt

The government is telling half of the U.S. population to drastically cut their daily salt intake.  That’s the advice to consumers — and the food industry — as the government issues new dietary guidelines, which are the recommendations behind the popular food pyramid.  For the first time, the Agriculture and Health and Human Services departments, which issue the guidelines every five years, are telling people who are 51 and older, all African-Americans and anyone suffering from hypertension, diabetes or chronic kidney disease to reduce daily sodium intake to little more than half a teaspoon.

Read more here: wvgazette.com

Feds pepper Americans with this advice: Hold the salt – Cuts its daily recommendation to 1 teaspoon

Most people know how to count calories. Dedicated dieters have learned how to suss out good from bad cholesterol.  But based on a new federal health report, there’s an ingredient whose dietary damage still might be flying under the radar: salt.  The U.S. Department of Agriculture this month released its latest edition of “Dietary Guidelines for Americans,” which identified salt as Public Enemy No. 1. The report recommends that Americans limit their daily sodium intake to less than 2,300 milligrams — or 1 teaspoon.

Read more here: reporternews.com

Grim salt levels in county’s takeaways

A new report into the quality of takeaway food makes “depressing” reading.  West Yorkshire Trading Standards and the West Yorkshire Public Analyst made the claim after conducting a countywide survey which discovered massive levels of salt.  Scientists found no improvement in the sodium levels from five years ago. High amounts of salt in the diet can lead to increased blood pressure and the risk of a stroke.  The report also said that only one out of eight Hawaiian or ham and cheese pizzas tested actually contained ham. Most had cured turkey meat or a composite of the two.  Fifty-eight takeaways were visited across the county and 160 meals were sampled such as special chow mein, beef and green pepper in black bean sauce, donner kebab, keema curry, chicken tikka masala and pizza.  Nearly half contained more than six grams of salt which is the maximum recommended daily intake for an adult.

Read More here: examiner.co.uk

Fed advises Americans to cut down on salt

The government is telling half of the U.S. population to drastically cut their daily salt intake.  That’s the advice to consumers — and the food industry — as the government issues new dietary guidelines, which are the recommendations behind the popular food pyramid.  For the first time, the Agriculture and Health and Human Services departments, which issue the guidelines every five years, are telling people who are 51 and older, all African-Americans and anyone suffering from hypertension, diabetes or chronic kidney disease to reduce daily sodium intake to little more than half a teaspoon.

Read more here: detnews.com

Walmart launches healthy foods initiative to reduce salt, sugar and fats

Walmart is getting on Michelle Obama’s bandwagon, announcing Thursday that it will start selling healthier foods. The four-year plan, which company officials announced in Washington with the First Lady, includes reducing salt and sugar as well as eliminating trans fats in packaged foods. Officials for the world’s largest retail chain also plan to cut the prices of fresh fruits and vegetables — and will build stores in low-income neighborhoods where consumers have few choices to buy food beyond gas stations and convenience stores.

Read more here: latimes.com

Cheese industry pledges to do more on sodium reduction

US cheese companies have agreed to step up efforts to reduce the sodium content in cheese and educate consumers about the limits of sodium reduction.  At a meeting hosted by the Innovation Center for US Dairy 17 leading cheese firms, including the likes of Chr Hansen, Kraft Foods and Cargill, discussed the key challenges and opportunities related to sodium reduction.  The companies are working pre-competitively on best practice to reduce sodium levels through formulation as well as process and manufacturing control.

Read more here: foodnavigator-usa.com

AHA Issues Call for Reduced Sodium in Diets

The American Heart Association (AHA) has called for reducing the amount of sodium in Americans’ diets. Their recommended daily maximum of 1,500 mg is significantly lower than the 2,300 mg/day recommended for most adults in the 2005 Dietary Guidelines, but it’s in line with recommendations from the advisory committee of the 2010 Dietary Guidelines, which are due out shortly.

Read more here: cardiologychannel.com

Salting the earth: Sodium carries health risks

Salt is one of the most commonly used seasonings in the kitchen, but it seems that residents in Beijing are consuming far too much of it. According to the World Health Organization, daily intake of salt for healthy adults should be no more than six grams, however, the Beijing Health Bureau in early January said that most Beijingers consume more like 13.4 grams, more than twice of the recommended maximum.

Read more here: beijing.globaltimes.cn

Those french fries can harm your heart in just 30 minutes

Just 30 minutes after you scarf down a salty snack, clear changes can be seen in your arteries, a new study shows.  Researchers found that salt-laden foods quickly impair the ability of blood vessels to widen even in people with normal blood pressure, according to the study published in this month’s The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.  While the long term effects of this kind of impairment are unknown, the findings do show that salt has an impact even in people with healthy blood pressure, noted the study’s lead author, Kacie M. Dickinson, a researcher at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization in Adelaide, Australia.

Read more here: www.msnbc.msn.com

Salty foods can quickly harm your heart

According to an article from msnbc.com, “Salty snacks harm your heart in just 30 minutes,” it seems as though a moment of salty pleasure can quickly lead to a plethora of serious health issues. The study conducted by the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has discovered that salty foods “quickly impair the ability of blood vessels to widen even in people with normal blood pressure.” The response was similar to that of the effects on the body after one has eaten a high in fat meal. The test consisted of people who ate low-sodium tomato soup and regular sodium-filled tomato soup. Almost immediately, the regular soup participants showed changes in their blood vessel function. Over time, these changes can lead to atherosclerosis, a fat buildup in the blood vessels.

Read more here: timesunion.com