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9 Nissan 5764 - March 31, 2004 | Mordecai Plaut, director Published Weekly
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Observations: The Latest Nutrition Guidelines -- Cut Salt, Up Potassium
by Yated Ne'eman Staff

A US nutrition report suggests lowering the maximum amount of salt Americans should allow themselves each day, even though the average person already consumes far more than the old maximum.

The Institute of Medicine is a scientific organization that sets the US's recommended levels of nutrients. The Food and Drug Administration uses the institute's nutrient levels to calculate the listing of the percentage of the daily allotment of fat, vitamins and other substances on food labels. That is, if the label says a given food provides 40 percent of an adult's recommended daily amount of a particular nutrient, the recommendation is based on the findings of the Institute of Medicine.

Its salt conclusion could change the sodium content consumers see on the labels of foods. The government currently recommends no more than 2,400 milligrams of sodium a day, the equivalent of a heaping teaspoon of salt. The new recommendation is only 1,500 mg a day. The new report sets a daily upper limit of 2,300 milligrams, but does not recommend exceeding 1,500.

Current studies show that the average person eats more than 4,000 mg a day, three-quarters of it from restaurant meals and common processed foods like spaghetti sauce and frozen dinners. Salt is commonly used in processed foods to mask undesired tastes.

While factors such as weight and exercise play a role, salt and blood pressure usually go hand-in-hand: Eat more salt, blood pressure rises. Eat less salt, it drops. Lower blood pressure means less risk of suffering heart attacks, strokes and kidney disease.

The Institute of Medicine report also concluded that the rule "drink at least eight glasses of water a day" is unnecessary. The average healthy person gets plenty of fluid, it said, from beverages as well as the water content of fruits, vegetables and other fluids. So just drink when thirsty.

It also said that most Americans should eat a lot more potassium -- 4,700 mg a day, roughly double current consumption. Potassium is found in bananas, spinach, cantaloupe and numerous other fruits and vegetables. Food sources are better than special supplements. Potassium lowers blood pressure and reduces the risk of kidney stones and bone loss.

The US food industry opposes the salt change. A spokesman said consumers wouldn't buy foods that suddenly drop sodium levels because they would taste different. Still companies are hedging their bets and are hunting new recipes to provide a gradual decline. Canned foods today contain 40 percent less sodium than a few years ago.

The American Public Health Association is pushing for the sodium in processed foods to be cut in half within 10 years.

The 1,500-mg salt level is for healthy younger adults. Because blood pressure rises with age, the new report says people over 50 should strive for 1,300 mg, and 1,200 mg for those over 70.

 

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