The Government Wants You To Cut Down On Salt

The United States government has issued new dietary guidelines and wants half the population to drastically reduce salt intake.

For the first time, the Agriculture and Health and Human Services departments, which issue the guidelines every five years, are telling people who are 51 and older, all African-Americans and anyone suffering from high blood pressure, diabetes or chronic kidney disease to cut the amount of sodium they eat daily to little more than half a teaspoon.

That group includes about half of the population and those who are most at risk of having higher blood pressure due to the amount of salt they eat. For everyone else, the government continues to recommend about a teaspoon a day – 2,300 milligrams, or about one-third less than the average person usually consumes.

Here are some guidelines:

-Read nutrition labels closely and buy items labeled low in sodium.

-Use little or no salt when cooking or eating.

-Consume more fresh or home-prepared foods and fewer processed foods, so they know exactly what they are eating.

-Ask that salt not be added to foods at restaurants.

-Gradually reduce sodium intake over time to get used to the taste.

Is this a good role for government?

By: Alan

Alan Colmes is the publisher of Liberaland.