Narrator: SALT.
THE CHEMICAL NAME FOR IT IS SODIUM CHLORIDE.
ABOUT 90% OF THE SODIUM WE EAT COMES IN THE FORM OF SALT.
CURRENT DIETARY GUIDELINES SAY AMERICANS AGED 2 AND UP
SHOULD EAT LESS THAN 2,300 MILLIGRAMS OF SODIUM,
OR ABOUT 1 TEASPOON OF SALT, PER DAY.
HOWEVER, ABOUT HALF THE POPULATION
SHOULD GET EVEN LESS THAN THAT.
A DIET EVEN LOWER IN SODIUM, 1,500 MILLIGRAMS PER DAY,
IS RECOMMENDED FOR PERSONS 51 AND OLDER
AND THOSE OF ANY AGE WHO ARE AFRICAN-AMERICAN
OR HAVE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, DIABETES,
OR CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE.
EVEN THOSE WHO TRY TO WATCH WHAT THEY EAT
MAY NOT REALIZE JUST HOW MUCH
SALT IS IN OUR FOOD.
MANY AMERICANS DON'T KNOW
THAT UNSEEN SALT
DRIVES UP THEIR BLOOD PRESSURE, INCREASING THE RISK
OF HEART DISEASE AND STROKE, WHICH ARE THE FIRST AND THIRD
LEADING CAUSES OF DEATH IN THE UNITED STATES.
Narrator: STUDIES SHOW THAT ADULTS EAT AN AVERAGE
OF 3,400 MILLIGRAMS OF SODIUM EVERY DAY.
THAT'S MORE THAN TWICE THE RECOMMENDED LIMIT
FOR MOST AMERICAN ADULTS AND FAR MORE THAN THE BODY NEEDS.
BUT THE SALT SHAKER IS NOT THE MAJOR PROBLEM,
NOR IS THE PINCH OF SALT TOSSED INTO THE SPAGHETTI SAUCE.
THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF THE SALT WE EAT --
ABOUT 3/4 OF IT -- IS ALREADY IN FOODS WE BUY
FROM GROCERY STORES AND RESTAURANTS.
BUT IT'S NOT ONLY PRESENT IN SALTY FOODS
LIKE CURED MEATS, CHIPS, AND PICKLES.
IT'S ALSO HIDDEN IN FOODS THAT MAY NOT EVEN TASTE SALTY
LIKE CEREAL AND CONDIMENTS.
AND IT'S THESE HIDDEN SOURCES THAT MAKE REDUCING SALT INTAKE
CHALLENGING FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FOR SOCIETY.
INCREASED SALT IN THE DIET INCREASES BLOOD PRESSURE.
INCREASED BLOOD PRESSURE INCREASES THE RISK
FOR HEART ATTACK AND STROKE.
WE HAVE IT FROM EVERY SOURCE CONCURRENTLY,
IN REGARD TO SALT AND BLOOD PRESSURE.
THE EVIDENCE IS EXTENSIVE, CONSISTENT, STRONG,
AND WORTHY OF THE DESIGNATION.
IT'S A CAUSATIVE EFFECT.
Anderson: THE MODIFICATION OF SODIUM INTAKE
FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE EXCESSIVE CONSUMPTION
IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT WHETHER OR NOT INDIVIDUALS
ARE HYPERTENSIVE, WHETHER OR NOT
THEY'RE AFRICAN-AMERICAN, WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE
MIDDLE-AGED OR OLDER ADULTS.
THIS IS A PUBLIC HEALTH PROBLEM AND ONE THAT'S IMPORTANT
FOR ALL AMERICANS.
Narrator: THE TREMENDOUS BURDEN OF HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE --
HARDENED ARTERIES, HEART ATTACK, HEART FAILURE,
AND EVEN BLINDNESS -- IS ACCOMPANIED
BY AN ALARMING ECONOMIC TOLL.
ACCORDING TO RECENT ESTIMATES, U.S. COSTS FOR HEART DISEASE
AND STROKE, TO WHICH HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
IS A MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR, WERE AN ESTIMATED
$444 BILLION IN 2010.
THIS INCLUDES SPENDING ON HEALTH CARE,
LOST PRODUCTIVITY, DEATH, AND DISABILITY.
CHANGING INDIVIDUAL BEHAVIOR IS VERY HARD,
EVEN AMONG THE MOST MOTIVATED.
THAT'S WHY IMPROVING THE AVAILABLE CHOICES
REMAINS PART OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH EFFORT
ALONG WITH EDUCATION.
THE PLEASURE OF EATING IS A VERY IMPORTANT PLEASURE
OF CIVILIZED HUMAN BEINGS.
NONE OF US WHO HAVE ANY SENSE WOULD THINK OF INTERFERING
WITH THAT PLEASURE.
THAT PLEASURE IS FULLY ENJOYABLE.
YOU JUST RE-EDUCATE YOUR TASTE BUDS.
SALT REDUCTION IN OUR FOOD NOT ONLY REQUIRES A NEW MIND-SET
BUT A NEW ENVIRONMENT,
ONE IN WHICH HEALTHIER FOODS
ARE THE ACCESSIBLE
AND AFFORDABLE DEFAULT OPTION
FOR EVERYONE.
SALT MATTERS.
WE MUST ACT AND ACT NOW.