Cutting Salt Intake Could Save Billions
| A report from the Rand Corporation shows that if Americans would cut their sodium (salt) intake to the recommended levels, our country would save an estimated $18 billion dollars yearly in healthcare costs. People would also be healthier and live longer, saving another $18 billion in productivity losses.
A high salt intake is linked closely to high blood pressure and increased risk of heart disease and stroke. Eating less salt would eliminate an estimated 11 million cases of high blood pressure and extend the lives of thousands of people each year. The average person consumes about 3,400 mg of sodium daily. The recommended intake is less than 2,300 mg of sodium daily for young, healthy persons, and less than 1,500 mg/day for persons over age 50, blacks (they are more likely to get high blood pressure), and anyone with high blood pressure – which is about 1/3 of the population.
Most of the sodium people eat (about 75 percent or more) comes from processed foods and restaurant foods. Another 10-15 percent comes from the salt shaker in the home. That leaves only 10-15 percent of the sodium we eat coming from the food itself.
If you want to stay healthy, prevent high blood pressure, and cut your healthcare costs, try these tips to lower sodium in your diet:- Cut back on foods high in salt and sodium, such as canned foods, soups, and vegetable juices. Use fresh fruit and juices and cut sodium intake for the same foods by 90 percent or more.
- Limit processed foods, such as chips, and convenience packaged foods or meals (e.g. macaroni and cheese, Top Ramen®, or TV dinners).
- Limit eating at fast food restaurants – hamburgers, fries, chips, and tacos are all very high in sodium.
- Use table salt, soy sauce, ketchup and other sauces, and salad dressings very moderately, if at all.
- Use a sodium substitute in place of regular salt and use it sparingly. This will cut your sodium intake you add to foods by 60 percent.
- Limit intake of pickled foods.
- Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables.
- Read food labels. Buy lower sodium foods. Some brands will have only half as much as others.
Rand Corporation Report, reviewed in USA Today. Sept. 14, 2009. |
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