Salt 'as bad as cigarettes'

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Taken from news.com.au here:

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,24745352-36398,00.html?from=public_rss

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AUSTRALIANS are consuming too much salt, say nutritionists who blame

not only fast food but also healthier alternatives such as canned

vegetables and baked beans.

Less than 5 per cent of all sausages and beef burgers sold in the

nation's supermarkets contained acceptable levels of salt, a Nutrition

Society of Australia conference has also heard.

Jacqui Webster, a senior project manager based at Sydney's The

Institute for International Health, said Australians were consuming

well over the maximum recommended intake of six grams of salt a day.

" Despite being aware of the adverse health effects of salt, most

Australian consumers are taking little action to reduce their

intake,'' Ms Webster told the conference.

" Consuming too much salt, or sodium, can lead to serious health

problems including high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease,

stroke, osteoporosis and stomach cancer.

" There is also some evidence that it adds to the severity of asthma

symptoms.''

Ms Webster said the 2007 Australian National Children's Nutrition and

Physical Activity Survey showed boys were consuming around 9g of salt

daily, while girls came in at the maximum 6g.

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She said it was also likely that many adults consumed in excess of the

9g of salt each day.

Ms Webster said foods contributing to high salt diet included bread,

processed meats, baked beans, canned vegetables, table sauces, some

breakfast cereals and fast food.

Research in the UK showed processed foods accounted for 75 per cent of

salt in a person's diet, with 10 per cent from natural foods like fish

and vegetables.

The remaining 15 per cent was salt added at the table or during cooking.

Given the dire health consequences, Ms Webster said reducing salt in

the diet should be " considered on the same level of importance as

reducing obesity, alcohol and tobacco consumption''.

Leading nutritionists from around Australia and the world are

attending the conference in Adelaide.

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If only the general public were aware of the necessity of sea salt and

the bad effects of table salt!