The study was a meta-analysis of several studies primarily based in Asia, where experts say cuisine and food culture likely make it easier to use salt substitutes.
“The average American eats 3,400 milligrams of salt [per day].
“More than 97% of people don’t know how much — or underestimate how much — sodium is in their diet,” Sutton said.
The new study was specific to people who have a higher risk of heart attacks and strokes.
People with an elevated risk should talk to their doctor about ways to reduce salt in their diets.
For example, Sutton pointed to a bowl of Doritos tortilla chips, saying that just 12 contain “about 200 milligrams” of sodium.
And it found that reducing sodium for six months significantly reduced risk of heart disease, stroke and kidney disease,” Sutton said.
“Potassium can help blunt the effect of sodium in our body, helping us manage our blood pressure,” he said.
Salt substitutions may be associated with a lower risk of death, specifically from heart disease and stroke, according to a recent study examining older adults who are at high risk of heart attacks or strokes.
The research was a meta-analysis of multiple studies, most of which were conducted in Asia, where experts believe that food cultures and cuisines there probably facilitate the use of salt substitutes. In this U.S. s. The American Heart Association states that table salt added to food during cooking does not account for about 70% of the sodium that people consume; instead, packaged and prepared foods do.
Experts nevertheless assert that the results, which were released on Tuesday in the Annals of Internal Medicine journal, may serve as a useful reminder to avoid excessive sodium intake and encourage individuals to consider other options.
“The typical American consumes 3,400 mg of salt [daily].”. The American Heart Association, which also recommends “an ideal limit of no more than 1,500 mg per day for most adults, especially for those with high blood pressure,” clarified ABC News medical correspondent Dr. Darien Sutton, “that the recommended amount is about 2,300 milligrams [per day].”. “.
“More than 97% of people underestimate or don’t know how much sodium they consume,” according to Sutton.
The World Health Organization reports that the consumption of diets high in sodium causes over 2 million deaths worldwide annually.
Not every adult needs to drastically reduce their intake of salt for medical reasons. Only those with an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes were included in the latest study. Individuals who are at a higher risk should discuss ways to cut back on salt in their diets with their physician. Looking at the label on any packaged food is frequently the first step.
Sutton, for instance, indicated that only 12 of the Doritos tortilla chips in a bowl have “about 200 milligrams” of sodium.
“If you look at the actual bag, one of those regular bags has fifteen servings,” he stated. That is equivalent to over three thousand milligrams of sodium. You need to be aware of how much sodium you consume, since processed foods account for the majority of it. ****.
“Eat regular today, categorize or quantify how much sodium you are having and then, at the end of the day, figure out how to do better,” is one piece of advice Sutton offered. “.”.
He also advised using shrewd judgment when choosing healthy alternatives to salt for flavor.
He offered as alternatives paprika, ground pepper, onion powder, cinnamon, ginger, or garlic, saying that “most of the time if you remove the sodium from our food, most people won’t recognize it, especially if you add other [ingredients].”.
According to Sutton, the analysis this week confirmed what many people already knew—that eating salt can be harmful to our health.
This meta-analysis, which examined several studies simultaneously, focused on older Asian populations that were deemed to be more vulnerable. And it discovered that a six-month sodium reduction substantially lowered the risk of heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease,” according to Sutton. In order to lower your risk and enhance your quality of life as you age, you must actively monitor your sodium intake. ****.
Sutton suggested keeping track of one’s salt intake by writing it down and including additional nutritional options when making adjustments.
“We can better control our blood pressure by using potassium to counteract the effects of sodium in our bodies,” he stated. Leafy greens, bananas, and sweet potatoes are things you should include in your diet. You should also limit processed foods and watch how much sodium you consume. ****.
Sony Salzman of ABC News assisted with this report.
