REGULATING THE SALT INTAKE

The Indian council for Medical Research (ICMR) highlighted the need to reduce the Salt intake.
A healthy, active adult need between 200 and 500 mg of sodium per day.
According to WHO, the world is off track to achieve its global target of reducing salt intake by 30% by 2025.
Only 5% of the WHO member states have mandatory and comprehensive sodium-reducing policies.
Excess sodium is the leading cause of non-communicable disease.
India does not have a national policy but it does have voluntary measures to reduce sodium.
Sodium labelling is not mandatory in India so far.
The U.K. has been the leading country in the world to have reduced salt consumption in the population.

Harmful effects of Salt on health?

Sodium attracts water and a high sodium diet draws water into the bloodstream, which can increase the volume of blood and subsequently blood pressure.
Some common food additives like monosodium glutamate (MSG), sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), sodium nitrite, and sodium benzoate also contain sodium.
Consuming high levels of sodium increase your risk for osteoporosis by leaching calcium from your bones.

SOURCE: THE HINDU, THE ECONOMIC TIMES, PIB

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