Most Americans Consume Too Much Salt

Latest Studies Confirm Benefits of Low Salt Diet

Mar 30, 2009 Barbara Bell

CDC releases report stating that 70% of Americans consume more sodium than is healthy for their bodies. Too much increases risk of high blood pressure and other diseases.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "About 145 million U.S. adults are thought to be more sensitive to salt — a group that includes anyone with high blood pressure, African-Americans and everyone older than 40", as reported by Mike Stobbe, medical writer for the Associated Press, on Thursday, March 26, 2009. "Researchers say the average adult is consuming about 3,500 milligrams a day. For those in the at-risk group, the average was a little lower — about 3,400 milligrams — but still more than twice what's recommended."

Excess Salt in American Diet

Too much sodium in the body increases the demands on one's heart, blood vessels, lungs, kidneys, and other vital organs and systems. The stress leads to high blood pressure, edema, pulmonary hypertension, congestive heart failure, kidney failure, and stroke.

Sodium is an essential element in the human body and it is required for overall good health. It regulates muscle contractions and the balance of fluids, and is found in blood, saliva, tears, sweat, and lymph fluids. It is even a part of amniotic fluid.

The federal guidelines now state that a normal healthy body requires no more than 2300 milligrams daily of sodium for good health, but are now recommending that this ceiling be lowered to around 1500-1800 mgs of sodium for those with high blood pressure or who are at risk for it. The study also established the extent of the population who are at risk of these diseases because of their consumption of too much sodium.

Approximately 69% of adult Americans, especially African Americans and the elderly, fall into this group. The study was based on a government survey of 8,000 participants during the years 1999 through 2006, and used a combination of interviews, dietary surveys and medical tests.

Health Risks of Excess Sodium Revealed

Both the federal government and private health organizations are trying to awaken the public to the seriousness of consuming too much salt. Because there is sodium hidden in every segment of a normal diet, including processed foods and fast foods, it is going to require a combined effort of public and private entities to reduce the amount of salt in the American diet.

New York City's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, recently announced a national campaign to diminish salt intake 20% in the next five years and 40% in the next decade. Similar to its campaign to eliminate trans fats from the city's restaurant menus and fast food outlets, this effort will require cooperation from restauranteurs, manufacturers, health officials, even hospitals and school systems, to achieve its goal.

Efforts to Reduce Sodium Intake in Population

A nationwide, large-scale effort to reduce sodium intake in the population must involve policymakers, the food industry and the health care industry to be successful. Voluntary measures will have some impact, but simply avoiding potato chips, and skipping the salt shaker, will not be sufficient for most people.

Nonetheless, there are ways to reduce one's salt intake by becoming aware of the hidden salt in processed and packaged foods, common ingredients in familiar recipes, and by educating oneself about fast food nutrition.

The copyright of the article Most Americans Consume Too Much Salt in Health Field is owned by Barbara Bell. Permission to republish Most Americans Consume Too Much Salt in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.