Reduce the Salt & Reduce the Risk

On Jan 13th, the American Heart Association  issued a call to action for the public, health professionals, the food industry and the government  "to intensify efforts to reduce the amount of sodium (salt) Americans consume daily.In an advisory, published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association, the association sets out the science behind the American Heart Association’s recommendation for the general population, which is to consume no more than 1500 milligrams (mg) of sodium a day because of the harmful effects of sodium – elevated blood pressure and increased risk of stroke, heart attacks and kidney disease. Elevated blood pressure (hypertension) is a major public health problem – approximately 90 percent of all Americans will develop hypertension over their lifetime."

One teaspoon of salt provides 2300mg of sodium---close to twice what the AHA recommends per day.  Much sodium is consumed in restaurants, and packaged foods.  When you cook at home, use more fresh herbs to enrich the flavors of foods, and it will be easier to use less salt.  For more hints click here.