You Need Much Less Salt Than You Think
The blood pressure levels
of many Indians probably rose on Friday as results of the general election
poured in. Saturday though, was World Hypertension Day, designated for raising
awareness about hypertension and ways to deal with it.
“Hypertension is also a
major risk factor for strokes and cardiovascular disease,” said Mathew Samuel
Kalarickal, interventional cardiologist, Apollo Hospitals.
The easiest remedy to
avoid it is cutting down on your salt intake, said Dr. Ravichandran. A recent study from the
World Action on Salt and Health, published in the British Medical Journal,
documents the benefit of salt reduction in the English population. According to the study,
after a nationwide salt reduction programme in 2003-04, there was a decrease in
the death rate due to strokes by 42 per cent and heart attacks by 40 per cent,
between 2003 and 2011. Not just that, the study found salt reduction also saved
money. As per its estimate, salt reduction in England had saved more than 1.5
billion pounds per annum.
The World Health
Organisation recommends only 5 grams of salt a day. Children aged below 16
require even less salt. However, most Indians consume between 10 to 15 grams a
day, putting them at severe risk of hypertension.
Another problem is the
lack of studies in India that estimate the sodium content in our diet.
“There have been a few
studies from different parts but no large study since 1988. There is an urgent
need for a study that tests sodium intake and is confirmed by urinary sodium
estimation,” he said.
Other measures such as
awareness programmes, labeling of sodium content on processed foods, dispelling
myths about children’s need for sodium and making available low-sodium
substitute foods at cheap prices were also needed, said experts.
"It is a myth that people in tropical countries,
like India, require more salt. The amount of salt lost through sweating is
very low"
The blood pressure levels
of many Indians probably rose on Friday as results of the general election
poured in. Saturday though, was World Hypertension Day, designated for raising
awareness about hypertension and ways to deal with it.
“This year’s theme, ‘Know
your blood pressure,’ is especially relevant in our country, where an estimated
35 per cent of the adult population has high blood pressure,” said Rajan
Ravichandran, director, MIOT Institute of Nephrology, MIOT Hospitals.
High blood pressure is the
most common killer in the world as it is a major contributing factor to kidney
disease, he noted.
“Hypertension is also a
major risk factor for strokes and cardiovascular disease,” said Mathew Samuel
Kalarickal, interventional cardiologist, Apollo Hospitals.
The easiest remedy to
avoid it is cutting down on your salt intake, said Dr. Ravichandran. A recent study from the
World Action on Salt and Health, published in the British Medical Journal,
documents the benefit of salt reduction in the English population. According to the study,
after a nationwide salt reduction programme in 2003-04, there was a decrease in
the death rate due to strokes by 42 per cent and heart attacks by 40 per cent,
between 2003 and 2011. Not just that, the study found salt reduction also saved
money. As per its estimate, salt reduction in England had saved more than 1.5
billion pounds per annum.
The World Health
Organisation recommends only 5 grams of salt a day. Children aged below 16
require even less salt. However, most Indians consume between 10 to 15 grams a
day, putting them at severe risk of hypertension.
“It is a myth that in
tropical countries we require more salt. The amount of salt lost through
sweating is very low,” said Dr. Ravichandran.
Another problem is the
lack of studies in India that estimate the sodium content in our diet.
“There have been a few
studies from different parts but no large study since 1988. There is an urgent
need for a study that tests sodium intake and is confirmed by urinary sodium
estimation,” he said.
Other measures such as
awareness programmes, labeling of sodium content on processed foods, dispelling
myths about children’s need for sodium and making available low-sodium
substitute foods at cheap prices were also needed, said experts.
"It is a myth that people in tropical countries,
like India, require more salt. The amount of salt lost through sweating is
very low"
