A study regarding the risks of a
low sodium diet was recently featured in The
Lancet, a peer-reviewed medical journal.
The study, conducted by Andrew Mente and colleagues, yielded surprising data,
leaving the researchers questioning the current sodium recommendations. It is commonly known that consuming high amounts
of sodium may lead to increased risk of heart problems. However, the data resulting from this study
indicate that, compared with an average salt intake, a low sodium intake might
increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, and even death. This raises the question: are the current
guidelines too low?
Currently, the Dietary Guidelines
for Americans recommends consuming no more than 1 teaspoon a day, which is
equal to 2,300 milligrams. This number
is fairly easy to achieve, which makes a strict low-sodium diet difficult to
maintain. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
the top sources of sodium include: breads and rolls, cold cuts and cured meats,
pizza, poultry, soups, sandwiches, cheese, pasta dishes, meat dishes, and
snacks. The CDC released a report
disclosing that 90% of Americans consume more sodium than recommended.
For this study, Andrew Mente and
his colleagues studied data from 130,000 people worldwide, focusing on the
relationship between sodium intake and heart problems. Regardless of high blood pressure, those who
consumed low amounts of sodium (less than 3,000mg/day) had higher rates of
heart attack, stroke, and death. Only
the hypertensive participants consuming a high sodium diet (more than
6,000mg/day) were subject to the risks of a high sodium diet. After analyzing their findings, the authors
believe the current sodium guidelines are too low, but recommend those with
hypertension refrain from a high sodium intake.
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