Strategies to reduce sodium intake in the US

[Guest guest]

The IOM is pushing to mandate that food manufacturers and restaurants reduce

sodium so that American's taste for sodium will gradually change without anyone

noticing the change:

http://iom.edu/Reports/2010/Strategies-to-Reduce-Sodium-Intake-in-the-United-Sta\

tes.aspx

I doubt seriously that tactic will work. I also doubt that everyone needs to cut

back on salt to a level of 2300mg/day. I definitely see a need to make concerted

effort to reduce salt in prepared foods, but some people are simply not salt

sensitive. We don't all need to avoid salt for the sake of those who are. I'm

just not so sure from the research that it is as deleterious to health as the

IOM, NIH, FDA, etc. make it sound. What I see in nursing homes is the elderly

losing a sense of taste, so they stop eating. They lose a sense of appetite

because of inactivity and loss of taste sensation. Sodium and sugar sparks that

appetite again, so I am constantly trying to liberalize NCS and 2g NA diets in

NHs to improve intake. The elderly can still taste salt, but it takes more, not

less, for them to be able to sense that same flavor as when they were younger.

Again, I do see a need to reduce sodium, but not to extreme levels like 2g/day.

As for private restaurants and food manufacturers, I don't want the government

telling them how they should manipulate my taste preferences. I and most

Americans will rebel against that loss of, simply on principle. We won't change

the public's preferences for salt and sugar by manipulating the food supply.

That will never happen. Those from " the government knows best " crowd will want

to comply with these strict mandates, but I'm not one of them.

W. Rowell, RD, LN

Montana State Hospital, Warm Spring, MT

Consultant Dietitian, Long Term Care

Certified LEAP Therapist