High sodium diet can contribute to hypertension
POSTED May 12, 2009 - 16:37 | POSTED BY Neharika Sabharwal
Last edited by Harpreet Bhagrath on May 12, 2009 - 17:57
The Sodium Working Group, chaired by Health Canada, a nonprofit organization, conducted a study in order to develop and oversee the implementation of strategies for reducing dietary sodium intake among Canadians.
Food inspection in restaurants
The researchers scrutinized 17 restaurants chains, which including Red Lobster, Olive Garden, KFC, Burger King, Taco Bell and Arby's.
They discovered that out of the total 102 meals tasted, nearly 85 had more than the recommended daily intake of salt, while some meals had an excessive amount of sodium.
Susan Barr, a nutrition professor at the University of British Columbia and member of a Sodium Working Group, said that though a diet high in sodium content can contribute to high blood pressure, it alone is not an issue.
Susan stated "Yes, sodium is an issue in North America, there's no debating that, but to isolate it from all of the other issues is perhaps overly simplistic. We're not going to fix North Americans' health solely by decreasing the sodium content of restaurant meals."
Nevertheless, obesity is directly associated to high blood pressure, and she feels the energy or calorie content of restaurant meals aggravates the situation, increasing the chances of developing hypertension, heart attack, kidney problems and strokes.
Research shows that lowering sodium consumption to optimal levels could reduce the incidence of stroke and heart disease by as much as 30 percent.
Sodium statistics
According to statistics, the average Canadian consumes in excess of 3,100 mg of sodium a day, a major portion of which is hidden in processed foods. An adequate daily intake for a healthy adult is 1,200 mg to 1,500 mg of sodium. People considered at risk for hypertension should consume less than 1,500 mg per day.
However, when eating out, it is trifle difficult to order a meal within the required levels of sodium.
Measures needed
The Canadian health group said the need of the hour was to reduce the amount of salt in the diet, especially of those going through pre hypertension phase.
Generally people are hesitant to cut down their salt intake assuming the food will taste bland, but although scaling to low salt may be tough initially, personal tastes often change within a couple of months.
Consuming fresh fruits and vegetables and urging restaurants to prepare foods without additional salt can improve health for all adults.
