There is always talk about sugar, its risks and harms, and how to reduce the amounts that can be eaten. Of course, the talk comes about sugar and deals with diabetes, which has afflicted healers and doctors since the Pharaonic era to the present day.
And guidance recently issued by the US Food and Drug Administration, regarding allowing salt substitutes to be eaten in the foods that the individual eats every day, raised great interest in a thorny issue, especially the conflicting advice related to salt alternatives, between those who consider them a solution to reduce the individual’s intake of salt, and those who see them as a threat to health. . The Food and Drug Authority had called on food factories and restaurant chains, in the year 2021, to reduce the percentage of salt in their foods by an average of 12% in relation to canned foods, and preserved in packages.
And she warned that excessive salt intake (also known as table salt and table salt) causes high blood pressure, which in turn leads to heart attacks and strokes. Last week, the agency said it was proposing that salt substitutes be allowed in the foods people eat every day, including cheese, frozen peas and canned tuna; In an effort to encourage a reduction in the population's intake of regular salt. "Americans consume large amounts of salt," said Susan Main, director of the FDA's Division of Food Safety and Nutrition. She added that the largest amounts of sodium consumed (which is a scientific name for salt) come from canned and processed foods, and not from the salt that people add to their dishes, meals and eating. The American Heart Association says that about 103 million adults in the United States suffer from high blood pressure, which is a major cause of death, as it leads to heart attacks and strokes.
Despite the seriousness of high blood pressure and its consequences, it is possible to reduce its risks through a radical change in the individual's lifestyle. Fast food and “crackers” are the most dangerous because they contain large amounts of salt.
And American internal medicine specialist Dr. Samuel Fink says that a large part of the treatment is to reduce the amount of salt that is eaten in the daily food. Many people prefer the DASH diet (Diet Approaches to Stop Hypertension), which involves encouraging more fruits, vegetables, lean meats and healthy fats, and less sugar and salt. Research indicates that those who follow the DASH diet and suffer from high blood pressure find that their blood pressure level began to decrease significantly within just two weeks of starting the DASH diet.
“If your blood pressure reading is 130/80 or higher, cutting out salt will turn it around,” says Dr. Fink, a California-based specialist, on his blog. Too much salt makes the body overburdened with a large amount of fluids, which makes the heart unable to pump blood into the body, which is known as high blood pressure. And if the individual reduces his salt intake to 1,500 milligrams per day, he will find that his blood pressure has begun to return to normal levels. However, giving up salt intake, or even cutting it down, is not easy for most people.
Fortunately, there are many alternatives to salt. Most salt substitutes are made with potassium chloride, a chemical that tastes similar to natural salt. And for those who can't stand the taste of "salt substitutes", there are lighter salt alternatives (Lite). They are often labeled "low sodium". It contains a mixture of sodium chloride and potassium chloride. Although these alternatives taste the same as natural salt; However, it contains the lowest amount of sodium chloride of all table salt. This means that salt substitutes contain a small amount of sodium chloride, so they should be eaten in moderation.
Since salt substitutes are based on potassium chloride, everyone with kidney disease or taking medication to lower blood pressure should avoid excessive potassium intake, unless approved by their doctor. There are those who can't stand salt substitutes of all kinds. These doctors and nutritionists advise them to create their own alternatives, such as using foods rich in herbs and spices.
There are foods like this available in the market. But the individual can create the natural "mixture" in which he finds a taste he likes. These herbs and spices include: rosemary, thyme, onion powder, garlic powder, coriander, parsley, and celery seeds. And those looking for a more piquant taste can add lemon. According to Cleveland Clinic experts, despite the benefit of salt substitutes, they can be very dangerous for patients with kidney disease, heart disease, high blood pressure, liver disease, and diabetes. Nutritionist Dr. Maxine Smith says the risks are many, so be careful not to take salt substitutes before consulting your doctor.
Doctors insist that sodium (salt) and potassium are necessary for the body, provided they are consumed in small quantities. Because they pump fluids to and from the cells. It is the sufficient levels of them that control the performance of muscles and nerves. Dr. Smith said the low amounts of potassium normally required by the body are necessary for normal heart functioning, including maintaining a normal heartbeat. The problem is how to find the required balance to give the body what it needs of salt and potassium, without excess or negligence. When a person consumes too much salt, large amounts of fluid begin to accumulate in the bloodstream. The kidney cannot filter these quantities of fluid, so it remains in the blood vessels, and the walls of those vessels are exhausted. Over time, high blood pressure will lead to kidney failure, heart attacks, and strokes. The American Heart Association maintains that the maximum allowable intake of salt is 2,300 milligrams per day. But the ideal is that this does not exceed 1500 milligrams per day.
Yassin Ahmed (London) @OKAZ_online