Many Americans consume more salt than they require with estimations suggesting 90 percent of the population fails to follow the recommended limits.
“It’s easy to over-consume this mineral. People tend to take in more salt than they realize because salt is in every canned or packaged food, used in all restaurant cooking, is in fast food and is often in bottled beverages,” explained Brigitte Zeitlin, founder of the New York-based BZ Nutrition.
While sodium (which comes from salt) is an important nutrient, it can damage our health when consumed in excess. Experts have linked excessive consumption to high blood pressure and an increased risk of heart disease and stroke.
A recent study even suggested high sodium intake may lead to a higher death rate.
I – Word Understanding
Stroke – the sudden death of brain cells due to lack of oxygen
II – Have Your Say
1. Are you conscious about your salt intake? How do you control it?
2. While a major chunk of the effort comes down to getting used to the taste of food with reduced salt intake, here are 4 tips to keep in mind and cut back effectively:
a. Read the nutrition facts labels
b. Make a habit of preparing food
c. Use alternatives to adding flavor
d. Make requests when dining out
660 Cutting Back On Salt? 4 Tips To Reduce Your Sodium Intake
