2. Dietary Sodium: Concerns
• What is sodium?
• Sodium is an element which is found in our
bodies that is essential for normal
physiological functioning.
• Sodium plays key roles in:
• Maintaining the water balance in our bodies
• Ensuring that nerve impulses can be transmitted to
and received by various tissues
3. Dietary Sodium: Concerns
• Health concerns related to sodium intake
• On average, reducing salt intake lowers blood
pressure in susceptible people and reduces
their risk of heart disease and stroke
• Other potential health benefits
• preserved bone mass
• reduced risk for other conditions such as:
• Atherosclerosis, altered calcium metabolism
• Kidney disease, kidney stones
• Esophageal and stomach cancers
4. Dietary Sodium: Concerns
• The Sodium Controversy
• Some research shows only small changes in
blood pressure when salt intake is reduced
(Hooper et al, Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2004;(1):CD003656)
• Because of this, nutrition scientists, especially
those working in the prepared food
industry, argue that sodium restrictions are
not necessary
5. Dietary Sodium: Concerns
• Bottom Line On Sodium And Health
• Although blood pressure is a key focus for
salt-reduction programs, it is not the only
health condition aggravated by high sodium
consumption
• Because sodium plays a role in several
common, serious illnesses, it is in the public
interest to view sodium intake as a public
health issue
6. Dietary Sodium: Concerns
• WHO’s Stance
• Reduce sodium intake to <2000 mg daily on
average
• Health Canada’s Stance
• population average of 2300 mg of sodium per
day to be achieved by 2016
7. Dietary Sodium: Concerns
• How Does This Affect You?
• Need to determine:
• Level of salt-sensitivity
• Risk profile for conditions made worse by ingesting
high levels of salt
• Need to learn:
• How to restructure diet
• How to read nutrition labels on prepared foods
• How to handle high sodium restaurant foods
8. Dietary Sodium: Concerns
• How Does This Affect You?
• Need to determine:
• Level of salt-sensitivity
• Monitor blood pressure before and after consuming a
high-sodium meal
• Check for evidence of fluid-retention
• Change in weight
• Change in the way clothing fits
• Puffiness – eyes, hands, ankles
9. Dietary Sodium: Concerns
• How Does This Affect You?
• Need to determine:
• Risk profile for conditions made worse by
ingesting high levels of salt – discuss with your
doctor what your risks are for:
– high blood pressure
– atherosclerosis
– kidney disease
– kidney stones
– osteoporosis
– cancer (esophageal, stomach, intestinal)
– asthma
10. Dietary Sodium: Consequences
• How Does This Affect You?
• Need to learn:
• How to restructure diet
• How to read nutrition labels on prepared foods
• How to handle high sodium restaurant foods
11. Dietary Sodium: Consequences
• How Does This Affect You?
• Dietary Restructuring
• Table salt is used as a preservative, flavouring
agent and a supplement (sodium and iodine)
• Some sodium exists naturally in most foods
• High sodium foods include:
• Baked goods
• Sea food
• Olives
• Cheese, salted butter
• Cocoa powder
• Smoked/deli meats
• Canned vegetables, soups
12. Dietary Sodium: Consequences
• How Does This Affect You?
• Dietary Restructuring
• Other sources of sodium:
• Baking soda, baking powder
• MSG
• Spice mixes, condiments
• Food additives
14. Dietary Sodium: Consequences
• How Does This
Affect You?
• Need to learn:
• How to read
nutrition
labels on
prepared
foods
15. Dietary Sodium: Consequences
• How Does This Affect You?
• Dietary Restructuring
• Shopping Strategy
• Stay away from the aisles!
• Read labels on baked goods and other prepared
products
• Be a consumer advocate – write to product
manufacturers to request low sodium versions of your
favourite high sodium products
17. Dietary Sodium: Consequences
• How Does This Affect You?
• Tips for managing sodium levels in restaurant foods
• KFC, Red Lobster, Olive Garden – sodium levels are especially high, up to
7,100 mg per meal
• Certain types of cuisine, such as Asian/Chinese, Mexican, Italian, deli, and
pub foods tend to have very high sodium
• Dishes labeled deep-fried, pan-fried, basted, batter-
dipped, breaded, creamy, crispy, scalloped, Alfredo, au gratin or in cream
sauce may be high in sodium.
• “Undress” your food. Ask to have dressings and condiments “on the side”.
• Special order. Many menu items would be healthy if it weren't for the way
they were prepared. Ask for your vegetables and main dishes to be served
without the sauces. If your food is fried or cooked in butter, ask to have it
broiled or steamed.
18. Dietary Sodium: Consequences
• How Does This Affect You?
• To learn more, consult these resources
• Health Canada’s Sodium Reduction Strategy
www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-
an/nutrition/sodium/strateg/index-eng.php
• Centre For Science In The Public Interest
www.cspinet.org/
• World’s Healthiest Foods www.whfoods.org
