A Study Says Most Indians Consume Salt Beyond Recommended Limit

Consumption of salt is normal, but overconsumption may lead to severe health issues. According to a study published in the Nature Portfolio journal, an average man consumes 8 g of salt exceeding the the recommended limit of 5 kg.

The research derives from a portion of the National NCD (Non-Communicable Diseases) Monitoring Survey which focused on inspecting urinary sodium excretion in 3,000 adults - a crucial indicator of salt intake. The amount of salt consumed was calculated using a universally accepted equation. The report revealed that all adults consumed more salt than the suggested limit, and according to further examination, the consumption among men (8.9g per day) was greater than women (7.9g per day).

Likewise, those who are employed consume 8.6g, use tobacco consume 8.3g, are obese consume 9.2g, or have hypertension consume 8.5g of salt than their counterparts who are unemployed, do not use tobacco, are non-obese, or have normal blood pressure. Consuming a lot of sodium, beyond the regular salt we eat, is known to heighten the risk of hypertension. This can lead to a heart attack or stroke.

Head of the ICMR-National Centre for Disease Informatics and Research, Dr Prashant Mathur, who conducted the Nature Portfolio study, in conversation with Times Of India said that cutting down at least 1.2g of sodium a day from our diet can significantly decrease the number of people needing treatment for high blood pressure by half. He emphasized that having knowledge about the negative impact on health could motivate people to reduce high salt intake. He further urged the importance of executing efficient strategies for food labelling and managing sodium content in commercially made food products.