Cutting Back on the Salt

For many people, purchasing food items that are low-fat or fat-free makes them feel like they are making a healthy choice for themselves and their families. However, what most people don’t realize is that many of these fat-free or lower-fat products may actually have a whole lot more salt in them than their full-fat alternatives. Food producers add extra salt to make up for the flavor that is lost when the fat content is reduced or eliminated, so it is important to read the labels and understand what you are buying. Especially for people that are looking to lower their consumption of saturated fats, it is essential that they also keep their sodium intakes in check.

Too much sodium in a person’s diet can lead to hypertension, or high blood pressure, which may eventually result in a heart attack or stroke. However, a healthy level of sodium intake does have benefits, such as stabilizing the body’s fluids. Still, doctors recommend that people keep their blood pressure at a healthy level in order to avoid the harmful effects of hypertension. It is recommended that most people in good health consume about 2,300 milligrams of sodium a day, according to organizations like the USDA and the American Heart Association. However, it is estimated that most people in this country consume daily sodium levels closer to 4,000 milligrams. A major contributor to having higher sodium levels are processed foods, which have high salt contents to help preserve the foods and give more flavor.

It is important to be conscious of sodium at all stages of food purchasing and preparation, as well as with foods that are prepared outside of the home by restaurants and other food vendors. Also, it may be helpful to reduce sodium intake by choosing organic foods, which are sometimes lower in salt than other products. Making sure to prepare meals using fresh meats, fish, poultry, fruits and vegetables, as well as grains and low-fat dairy products may also be beneficial. If a canned vegetable or other type of food is going to be used in preparing meals, try to rinse the products to reduce the sodium content. According to a study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, the more salt a person consumes, the more they crave it. So, by cutting back on the amount of sodium consumed daily, a person’s craving for salt will also be diminished.

A high level of salt in a person's diet may put them at greater risk of having a stroke or heart attack due to elevated blood pressure. If you or a loved one has medical malpractice questions in New York, please contact Silberstein, Awad & Miklos, serving clients with Nassau and Suffolk County medical malpractice, Brooklyn medical malpractice, Bronx medical malpractice and Queens medical malpractice cases. Silberstein, Awad & Miklos also serve clients located in Staten Island and Westchester County.

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