Are we ready to cut salt?

You're probably well aware that the average American eats far more salt than is good for them, with estimates of the average sodium intake ranging from 3,400 milligrams to over 10,000 milligrams per day. The vast majority of the salt in foods comes not from the individual diner adding it at the table, but rather it is added during cooking (or processing). With so many people subsisting on processed foods or restaurant meals, it's natural for folks in public health to wonder if it's time for the government to take action to limit the amount of salt in our food.

After the controversy surrounding New York's limiting the sizes of beverages a consumer can purchase, it would also be reasonable to wonder if the American people are ready for government action. Researchers at the CDC's Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention had a novel thought: why not ask them?

Or at least a representative sample of them (Am J Prev Med 2014;46(5):516-524). In 2010 over 9,500 Americans over the age of 18 responded to a survey which asked how much they agreed or disagreed with statements like these: "I think it's a good idea for government to keep food manufacturers from putting too much salt in food," and "I think it's a good idea for government to keep restaurants from putting too much salt in food." In addition to typical demographic questions like race/ethnicity, education level, and gender, they were also asked for their height and weight, whether they had been diagnosed with high blood pressure, and if they "want to eat a diet that is low in sodium/salt."

Over half of those surveyed (56%) agreed at least moderately that it was a good idea for government to restrict the amount of salt added by food manufacturers, while a little less than half (47%) agreed that it was a good idea for government to restrict the amount of salt in restaurant food. An even greater proportion - over 80%! - agreed that government should limit the amount of sodium in the food from quick service restaurants (fast food).

What this means for you

It's very encouraging that there is so much support for limiting the amount of sodium in our foods, even if no governmental action is taken. If you're looking to reduce the amount of sodium in your diet, here are three simple steps to a low sodium diet.

First posted: April 23, 2014