Salt is the forgotten killer.
The Center for Science in the Public Interest(CSPI) states that
“Reducing sodium consumption by half would save an estimated 150,000 lives per year. That in turn would reduce medical care and other costs by roughly $1.5 trillion over 20 years.”
Facts about salt consumption
- Consuming more salt tends to increase blood pressure and the risk of heart attacks, strokes, congestive heart failure, and kidney disease.
- Sodium intake—mostly from salt—has drifted upwards over the past 30 years and now averages about 4,000 milligrams per day—about twice the recommended amount.
- The vast majority—about 77 percent—of sodium comes from processed foods and foods eaten outside the home.
- Thousands of packaged foods provide one-fourth or more of a day’s maximum recommended intake.
What You Can Do
- Choose less-salty foods.
- Read labels and look for hidden sodium.
- Choose LOW SALT choices whenever you can.
- Do not add salt to your cooking.
SOURCE – www.cspinet.org