The Alternative Health Gazette

Salt: How much is too much?

Currently, the average American consumes between nine to fifteen grams of salt daily. And this is the major contributing factor to high blood pressure, WHO explains. If we could only reduce our salt consumption by even six grams, it would reduce deaths from strokes by nearly 25 percent. This level of reduction would also reduce heart disease by nearly 20 percent. This reduction would translate into nearly 2.5 million lives being saved every year worldwide.

Health disease, though, isn’t only the disease which worsens in the presence of salt. Excessive salt intake is also associated with an increased risk of osteoporosis, asthma, obesity, and cancer of the stomach.

So how much salt should we be getting? The National Institute of Health recommends that healthy people consume no more than 2,400 grams daily. And if you have already been diagnosed with high blood pressure, the NIH suggests that you should ingest no more than 1,500.

And that’s a great recommendation. But considering that so much of our salt intake is “beyond our control” hidden in processed foods how do you insure that you can adhere to these guidelines.

It’s time to take control of your eating habits. It’s going to be easier said than done. But, with a little perseverance at the grocery store, you can rein in the salt intake. And you can start by reading nutritional labels. The sodium content of every food is clearly marked. Boy, are you in for a big surprise!

Actually, if you’ve never paid much attention to salt and sodium before you might even be appalled. The average frozen dinner for example, contains more than 1,000 mg or one gram of sodium. Some of the dinners contain as much as 1,500 mg or 1.5 grams. That’s the recommendation of salt intake for an entire day if you suffer from high blood pressure.

You might be surprised to find that hidden in that submarine sandwich you had for lunch was a minimum of 800 mg to possible 1,800 mg of salt! Hot dogs fare little better. Depending on what you put on your dog, you can eat a lot of salt. A plain hot dog averages more than 600 mg of sodium. If you eat it as a corn dog with that corn meal coating it rises to nearly 1,000 mg.

Even if you go to your favorite pizza shop, you’ll discover that your slice of pizza is laden with salt as well. Depending on the brand and the toppings, if you eat only one slice, you’re getting between 500 and 800 mg of salt. And who eats only one slice?

Other Alternative Health Topics...
Arthritis Candida Colon Health Constipation Depression Diabetes Fungus hemmeroids hemmoroids hemoroids Hemorrhoids hemroids Herbal Basics Herbs Insomnia Joints Kidney Health Liver Health Menopause Metabolism piles Skin Care Womens Health Yeast Yeast Infections