We Eat Too Much Salt!
This is a profound health problem. Research estimates that reducing salt intake could save 150,000 lives each year!
The average person eats over 6,000 milligrams (mg) of sodium every day. That’s about 2 1/2 teaspoons of salt, which is about 2 1/2 times the recommended high end amount of 2,400 mg per day.
If you’re used to eating a lot of salt, there’s proof that your tastebuds can learn to do without all that sodium. A study placed a group of people on a sodium restricted diet for 5 months. Their subjective response to the saltiness of salt in solutions, soups and crackers were measured before and while they were following the diet. The same measurements were made in a control group that didn't change their diet. In the group that lowered their salt intake, the perceived intensity of salt in crackers increased over the 5 month period. The amount of salt needed for "maximum pleasantness" of taste fell in the study group but not in the control group.
Here's how to lower you salt intake:
- The 2,400 mg per day recommendation works out to just about 1 teaspoon of salt. Measure your salt when you cook.
- Each week plan more fresh meals (leftovers work great, too).
- Stop eating processed foods and fast foods. They are loaded in sodium!
- Cooking food from scratch takes a bit more time, but it tastes so much better and is so much better for you. Most importantly, you control the amount of sodium in your food.
- When you do eat processed foods, pay attention to the salt. The sodium content is the one item on the Nutrition Facts label that isn't confusing.
Your goal should be less than about 2,400 mg per day. This truly is one of the simplest ways to make a major change in your health. Take your time and make changes gradually. Your taste buds will adjust to eating less salty foods and you'll be so much healthier for it.
The average person eats over 6,000 milligrams (mg) of sodium every day. That’s about 2 1/2 teaspoons of salt, which is about 2 1/2 times the recommended high end amount of 2,400 mg per day.
If you’re used to eating a lot of salt, there’s proof that your tastebuds can learn to do without all that sodium. A study placed a group of people on a sodium restricted diet for 5 months. Their subjective response to the saltiness of salt in solutions, soups and crackers were measured before and while they were following the diet. The same measurements were made in a control group that didn't change their diet. In the group that lowered their salt intake, the perceived intensity of salt in crackers increased over the 5 month period. The amount of salt needed for "maximum pleasantness" of taste fell in the study group but not in the control group.
Here's how to lower you salt intake:
- The 2,400 mg per day recommendation works out to just about 1 teaspoon of salt. Measure your salt when you cook.
- Each week plan more fresh meals (leftovers work great, too).
- Stop eating processed foods and fast foods. They are loaded in sodium!
- Cooking food from scratch takes a bit more time, but it tastes so much better and is so much better for you. Most importantly, you control the amount of sodium in your food.
- When you do eat processed foods, pay attention to the salt. The sodium content is the one item on the Nutrition Facts label that isn't confusing.
Your goal should be less than about 2,400 mg per day. This truly is one of the simplest ways to make a major change in your health. Take your time and make changes gradually. Your taste buds will adjust to eating less salty foods and you'll be so much healthier for it.
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