Salt intake contributes to obesity

A study published in the journal "Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases" explains the reasons that contributed to the increase in salt intake in the diet of industrialized countries and presents the methods that have, Finland, to reduce consumption with beneficial effects on the health of the population.
The Dr. Heikki Karppanen, University of Helsinki, and Eero Mervaala, University of Kuopio, reported a reduction of 30 to 35% of salt intake for thirty years in Finland was associated with a fall 75-80% of the heart and coronary death among children under 65. Meanwhile, the life expectancy of Finns increased by 6 to 7 years.

The most likely explanation is a decrease of more than 10 mmHg in mean blood pressure of the population. A significant decrease in mean cholesterol has also contributed significantly to the decline in the incidence of cardiovascular disease. However, the use of drugs would participate only up to 10% of these changes.

In the United States, salt intake has increased by over 50% for fifteen years from the mid-1980s and the late 1990s. But at the same time, the prevalence of high blood pressure, which tended to decline, has increased significantly, the authors also reported.

They have also observed a strong correlation between salt intake and obesity. Increasing thirst, increased salt intake was associated with an increase in the consumption of beverages, usually high in sugars (135% between 1977 and 2001), at the expense of milk consumption (-38% ). The daily net energy gain was estimated at 278 calories per person, a calorie surplus which required additional 1:10 daily walk over 1977 to be eliminated.

For the authors, an overall reduction in salt intake by reducing the consumption of high sugar drinks, would be an effective way to combat obesity in industrialized societies. They invite us to ignore the messages of food industry on the potential health risks of reduced salt intake, which "are unwarranted or unethical."