Salt is very necessary to make a delicious dishes. However, too much salt was dangerous to health. Excessive salt intake can increase blood pressure.
This one item seems trivial. But a little less on food, can make bland food. Meanwhile, when most would threaten your health. “When viewed in the size of the individual, reducing salt intake may be affected only slightly in the body. But in a larger population, can be seen decline in cardiac disorders and certainly a significant health cost savings, “said author Annals of Internal Medicine, Dr. Crystal Smith-Spangler.
For the purpose of this is the U.S. government began to encourage the movement to reduce salt. In addition to increasing the health level, also reducing the state budget. “We hope that the government did not delay this action. And we urge the Ministry of Health, “Dr. Walter Willett as the head of Nutrition and Epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health, Boston. Walter.
Ministry of Health of New York also fully supports this campaign, by initiating movement The National Salt Reduction or reduction of the national salt consumption. This campaign seeks to cut salt intake by 20 percent over five years into the future. This campaign aimed primarily for the restaurant and food business, which largely contributed to salt intake for the population of the United States.
The actions of the American government is not without reason. According to Dr Thomas R Frieden, too much consuming salt causes at least 100,000 deaths annually in America. Furthermore, Thomas said, as quoted from webmd.com, there are at least two ways to cut the use of salt in food and making people healthier life.
The first road, the government in collaboration with food companies to reduce the amount of sodium used in food processing. This action is similar to that done by the previous British country. By running this, no decrease in salt intake of about 9.5 per cent in each population of England.
The same percentage can be gained by the United States if the following ways that have been run by the British. Americans could prevent as many as 531,885 cases of stroke and 480,358 cases of heart attack, for people aged between 40-85 years old. This can both improve the quality of life more than 2.1 million lives and could save medical expenses up 32.1 million dollars.
Other way is to levy taxes on the salt so that the price of the product rose 40 percent salt. In this way is estimated to 327,892 cases and 306,137 cases of stroke, heart attacks could be reduced. Health costs were saved up 22.4 million dollars, and improve the quality of life of 1.3 million inhabitants.
Reflecting on the experience of other countries, England for example, which has pioneered the movement nationally to reduce salt, reduce the salt levels will in fact immediately raises the pros and cons in society.
“Conversely, if governments do trimming salinity is gradually and slowly, so people will not realize it,” said Dr. David Fleming, Director of Public Health for Seattle and King County, Washington.
It seems Americans are trying hard to fight salt intake. Even the Department of Food and Drug Administration says the United States, healthy food salt content should not exceed 480 mg in each presentation.
Despite being much reviled, but the true sodium, or salt plays a major role in food processing. In the salt content of useful to keep the bacteria multiply in food. Especially in cheese products, salad dressings, and food fermentation. Salt is also an essential nutrient to add flavor and food coloring. Some foods are added to salt in it, including tomato sauce, soups, and canned food.
Before buying food products, you should first read the label indicated. Salt content in foods can be seen from nutrition facts label. Notice how the existing levels of sodium in foods, which are measured in milligrams (mg). Read also whether the food contains a soda. Soda here refers to sodium bicarbonate or baking soda,.
Keep in mind also, some writing that is usually listed on the label. For example, sodium-free or free of sodium, that is only using sodium less than 5 mg in each product. While sodium is very low or very low sodium, means reducing as much as 35 mg of sodium in each product. The low sodium, means the product is to reduce sodium 140 mg in each presentation.
You may often find a written product contains no added salt or no salt (unsalted or no salt added). This product is not using such salts used. But that does not mean free of salt, still, still contains salt, but salt is a natural part of the product concerned.
Sodium should be aware not only of food. Thus even with medication. In fact, drugs on the market also contain sodium. Thus, first read the existing label on the drug. Note the contents contained in the drug and read carefully what the drug does contain sodium.
Usually drugs that contain sodium is 5 mg per dose. The solution, some pharmaceutical companies are now starting to produce drugs that lower sodium. If you are still in doubt, it is better to ask first to your doctor or pharmacist before you decide to buy drugs. So, have you reduce the salt today?
