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Sodium is an essential nutrient and naturally present in many of the foods we eat, and in table salt and sea salt as sodium chloride, but it is the exceptionally large amounts of sodium present in many processed and fast foods, and restaurant purchased foods that may contribute to high blood pressure and an increased risk of stroke.
People with blood-pressure greater than 140 mmHg/90 mmHg have reduced their blood pressure to acceptable levels by reducing the amount of salt in their diet. This has a knock on effect of reducing stroke risk.
The adequate daily intake (AI) for sodium is 1500 mg/day with a tolerable upper level (UL) set at 2300 mg/day. 1 tsp salt contains almost 2300 mg sodium.
The adequate daily intake (AI) for sodium is 1500 mg/day with a tolerable upper level (UL) set at 2300 mg/day. 1 tsp salt contains almost 2300 mg sodium.
In North America the average consumption of sodium is about 3200 mg/day more than 25 % higher than the UL and more than twice the AI.
This is not surprising since a bacon and cheddar burger can contain >1700 mg sodium, chicken slouvaki and Greek salad >2000 mg sodium, and a pesto pizza > 2000 mg sodium.
Salt is added to many processed and fast foods for a variety of reasons, but much of the salt added to these foods could be reduced resulting in a sodium intake reduction for consumers and a decreased risk of hypertension and stroke.
Processed foods must identify the sodium content on the nutrition fact label which you can use to assess your sodium intake. However, providing nutrition facts at the point of purchase for restaurant foods is not yet regulated by Canadian Federal Law.
In November 2012, Libby Davies the deputy leader of the Official opposition and MP for Vancouver East introduced a private members bill in the House of Commons.
Bill C-460: The sodium Reduction Strategy for Canada Act is intended to help reduce the 16,000 deaths (annually) thought to be caused by excess sodium in the food supply. MPs will be free to vote with their conscience on the bill and while it appears that the bill is supported by the leadership of the NDP and Liberal, the Conservative health spokespeople are so far opposing the bill.
The bill is likely to come to vote in April or early May 2013. Now is the time for you to have your say about the quality of your food supply and reduce the number of people with hypertension and who die from related diseases.
This is not surprising since a bacon and cheddar burger can contain >1700 mg sodium, chicken slouvaki and Greek salad >2000 mg sodium, and a pesto pizza > 2000 mg sodium.
Salt is added to many processed and fast foods for a variety of reasons, but much of the salt added to these foods could be reduced resulting in a sodium intake reduction for consumers and a decreased risk of hypertension and stroke.
Processed foods must identify the sodium content on the nutrition fact label which you can use to assess your sodium intake. However, providing nutrition facts at the point of purchase for restaurant foods is not yet regulated by Canadian Federal Law.
In November 2012, Libby Davies the deputy leader of the Official opposition and MP for Vancouver East introduced a private members bill in the House of Commons.
Bill C-460: The sodium Reduction Strategy for Canada Act is intended to help reduce the 16,000 deaths (annually) thought to be caused by excess sodium in the food supply. MPs will be free to vote with their conscience on the bill and while it appears that the bill is supported by the leadership of the NDP and Liberal, the Conservative health spokespeople are so far opposing the bill.
The bill is likely to come to vote in April or early May 2013. Now is the time for you to have your say about the quality of your food supply and reduce the number of people with hypertension and who die from related diseases.
If you want your children and grandchildren to grow up in a healthy food environment act now to reduce the sodium content of processed foods, fast foods and restaurant purchased foods.
Urge your MP to support Bill C-460 by e-mailing or writing to him/her. Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) have a model letter which you can use following the link here.
Urge your MP to support Bill C-460 by e-mailing or writing to him/her. Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) have a model letter which you can use following the link here.
By Wendy Hartford (Hartfit: Nutritional health and fitness consulting)
Healthy living through understanding
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