What are the benefits of reducing salt in processed foods?
Reducing sodium in everyday foods may have heart health benefits for various population groups. Two new research studies published in the American Heart Association ‘s journal Hypertension showed that lowering sodium levels in processed and packaged foods may significantly improve cardiovascular health and protect against many cases of heart disease, stroke, and death.
Sodium and high blood pressure
Excessive sodium intake is a major risk factor for high blood pressure , which can lead to serious health complications such as heart attacks, strokes, chronic kidney disease, dementia, and other cardiovascular diseases, according to the American Heart Association.
To address global concerns about excessive sodium consumption – the main component of salt – many countries have implemented strategies to reduce salt intake with the aim of improving public health and reducing healthcare costs.
Two studies – one in France addressing targets for reducing salt in French bread (baguettes) and other types of bread by 2025, and the other in the United Kingdom focusing on 2024 targets for ready and packaged foods – were conducted to estimate the potential impact on the general population if these targets are achieved.
Modifying the ingredients of ready-made foods yields general health benefits.
The projections calculated in these two studies indicate that minor adjustments to the sodium content of some of the most common ready-made food ingredients in each country would not require any effort from individuals to change their eating habits, yet could yield significant overall health benefits.
According to the journal Hypertension, Dr. Clemence Greve, the lead author of the study from France, a physician specializing in epidemiology and public health at the French National Public Health Agency, based in Saint-Maurice near Paris, said: “This approach is highly effective because it does not rely on changing individual behavior, which is often difficult to achieve and sustain. Rather, it creates a healthy food environment automatically.”
The World Health Organization recommends that adults consume less than 2,000 milligrams of sodium per day, but global consumption is much higher than that.
For its part, the American Heart Association recommends consuming no more than 2,300 milligrams of sodium per day, which is about the equivalent of a teaspoon of table salt; but it also indicates that the optimal limit is no more than 1,500 milligrams per day for most adults, especially those with high blood pressure.
