Scientists urge the United Nations to reduce salt consumption in the world in the next 10 years
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
Scientists urge the United Nations to focus on reducing salt consumption in the world in the next 10 years.
Reducing salt intake by 15% can prevent the death of 8.5 million people around the world in the next decade, according to a study published in the British medical journal The British Medical Journal.
The authors of the work urge the UN to pay attention to the fact that after the fight against smoking, lowering the excess salt content in the people's diet is the most effective way to improve the health of the world's population.
According to scientists, to achieve a reduction in salt consumption by people is better not by social advertising, but by regulation by states of their food industry. Most of the salt that enters the human body with food is added when making food in food enterprises.
If earlier there were doubts about the negative impact of salt on human health, the authors of the report write, now it is pointless to argue on this topic.
The fact that salt raises blood pressure and increases the risk of cardiovascular disease has long been known - this is confirmed by numerous studies. Now the world should think about how to significantly reduce salt intake in practice, scientists believe.
In one America, a reduction in salt intake by one-third to a little will allow the healthcare system to save up to $ 24 billion a year and save tens of thousands of lives.
But given the fact that 70% of all heart attacks and heart attacks occur in developing countries, the effect of reducing salt in food will be global, - the study authors believe.
However, the body representing the salt-processing industry - the North American Salt Institute - rejects the results of the study, stating that the need to reduce salt intake is a myth based on popular misconceptions in society, rather than on objective scientific data.
[