Excessive salt intake raises the risk of high blood pressure, which in turn increases the risk of stroke and premature death from cardiovascular diseases - warn the scientists from two British organisations: Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition and Consensus Action on Salt and Health.
The current public health recommendations suggest that salt intake should be reduced from 9-12 to 5-6 grams per day for adults. Clinical trials demonstrate a clear link between salt reduction and the fall in blood pressure. A conservative estimate indicates that a reduction of 3 grams per day would reduce strokes by 13% and ischemic heart disease by 10%. The effects would be almost doubled with a 6-gram reduction and tripled with a 9-gram one.
Achieving the recommended levels of salt intake will be a lengthy process. Since most salt in the diet comes from the processed foods and not from the addition to food by consumers, individuals may find it difficult to control their own salt intake. What seems to be indispensable is the engagement of the food industry and a sustained reduction of salt content in manufactured foods.
Salt and Health - a report by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition, an advisory Committee of independent experts that provides advice to the UK Food Standards Agency and Department of Health as well as other UK Government Agencies and Departments.
