CHICAGO – People in the United States consume more than twice the recommended amount of salt, raising their risk for high blood pressure, heart attacks and strokes, government health experts said on Thursday.
They found nearly 70 percent of U.S. adults are in high-risk groups that would benefit from a lower-salt diet of no more than 1,500 mg per day, yet most consume closer to 3,500 mg per day.
“It’s important for people to eat less salt. People who adopt a heart-healthy eating pattern that includes a diet low in sodium and rich in potassium and calcium can improve their blood pressure,” Dr. Darwin Labarthe of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a statement.
“People need to know their recommended daily sodium limit and take action to reduce sodium intake,” Labarthe said.
The study in CDC’s weekly report on death and disease used national survey data to show that two out of three adults should be consuming no more than 1,500 mg of sodium per day because they are black or over the age of 40 — which are considered high-riskgroups.
Reuters, March 26, 2009
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Here, here! Westerners do eat WAY too much sodium – WAY more than is natural. So it’s no surprise the side effects’ negative impact on our health. We’re so conditioned we think it’s normal though. I’m glad more reports like this one are getting some exposure and I hope Smartsalt provides a better, more healthier alternative. Healthier people equals less doctor visits = lower health premiums/costs!