Addressing the dangers of high sodium intake for a better health

Dear Editor,

I came across a recent article published in this journal regarding low carbohydrate high fat-diet (LCHF) in real life and its associations with cardiovascular risk factors. One of the findings revealed that higher salt intake was associated with increased blood pressure and higher levels of triglycerides [1]. With this result, it is necessary to understand the role of salt in our bodies and suggest alternative ways to reduce salt intake for a better health outcome.

Sodium is a very important electrolyte in the body. It is key to maintaining homeostasis, fluid balance, nerve conduction, and muscle function [2]. Sodium and chloride are the main components of regular table salt and can be found in foods like milk, meat, shellfish, processed foods (bread, processed meat, and snack foods), and condiments (soy and fish sauce). The World Health Organization recommends less than 5 g per day or just under a teaspoon of salt intake, while children aged 2–15 adjust the adult dose downward based on their energy requirements. Unfortunately, the global mean intake of adults is 10.78 g/day, more than double. An estimated 1.89 million deaths each year are associated with consuming too much sodium, causing raised blood pressure and increased risk of cardiovascular disease [3].

As interventions, governments must strengthen their promotion of diet or lifestyle changes, such as increased physical activity (PA), massive information campaigns, and the use of herbs. Regular PA can help manage one's blood pressure and reduce the need for the body to hold onto excess salt to maintain fluid balance. It is important to note that the excreted sweat during PA contains excess sodium. The construction of more public parks, trails, bike lanes, and other recreational activities can encourage people to engage more in PA engagement. The massive and creative use of different social media platforms can greatly help spread essential information regarding the causes and effects of hypertension, the benefits and effects of specific food products, and other dietary guidelines. Lastly, restaurants and fast food chains must consider herbs as an alternative to salt in their food selections. Herbs can enhance the flavor and serve as antioxidants for the cells. Being cautious of what we eat is not easy, especially when it is flavorful, and we are in a hurry. However, it is better to be selective than to suffer from bad consequences in the end.

Authors’ disclaimers

None required.

Ethical approval

Ethical standards are followed in the research.

Data availability

The data that supports the findings of this study is available from the online references.

Funding

No funding is requested for this correspondence.

Declaration of competing interests

By taking all necessary precautions, the researcher will attest that no threats were found in the research.

Handling Editor: D Levy