American Heart Association says to shake less salt

William Atkins
Saturday, 14 March 2009 18:59

Science - Health

                 
Dr. Bibbins-Domingo, who is an assistant professor in residence of Medicine, Epidemiology and Biostatitics, also stated, "It's clear that we need to lower salt intake, but individuals find it hard to make substantial cuts because most salt comes from processed foods, not from the salt shaker. Our study suggests that the food industry and those who regulate it could contribute substantially to the health of the nation by achieving even small reductions in the amount of salt in these processed foods."

In other words, foods that are not processed (such as fresh fruits and vegetables) and lightly processed (such as meats, pasta, rice, and frozen vegetables) are much better to eat than heavily processed foods (such as TV dinners, fast-foods, and any foods with a ton of ingredients on the side of the container).

For additional information on highly processed foods, please read the SixWise.com article “All the Health Risks of Processed Foods -- In Just a Few Quick, Convenient Bites.”

The article says highly processed foods leads to a “toxic environment” in eating. It begins with this statement, “Every day, 7 percent of the U.S. population visits a McDonald's, and 20-25 percent eat fast food of some kind, says Steven Gortmaker, professor of society, human development, and health at the Harvard School of Public Health. As for children, 30 percent between the ages of 4 and 19 eat fast food on any given day.”

The article adds, “But that's just the tip of the iceberg. Americans get processed food not only from fast-food restaurants but also from their neighborhood grocery stores. As it stands, about 90 percent of the money that Americans spend on food is used to buy--that's right--processed foods.”

And, finally, it says, “Think about it ... if it comes in a box, can, bag or carton, it's processed. The fact that these foods are so readily available, and, often, of such poor quality, has led some, like associate professor of pediatrics at Harvard David Ludwig, to say that they're actually discouraging healthy eating and leading to a ‘toxic environment.’”

The processing of foods causes it to be less healthy for you. It is widely known that natural fresh fruits and vegetables are much more beneficial to your health than artifically made foods from fast-food joints and food contained within cardboard boxes and plastics.