Average Indian consumes 119% more salt per day
than WHO limit
An average
Indian consumes 10.98 grams of salt per day–119% more than the recommended
limit of five grams per day by the World Health
Organization (WHO)–according
to an IndiaSpendanalysis of a study conducted by the
Australia-based George Institute of Global Health (GIGH), published in the
Journal of Hypertension. Intake of excess salt can lead to high blood
pressure–a leading cause of cardiovascular
diseases (CVDs),
which accounted for 23% of all deaths in India between 2010 and 2013.
The study
analysed the salt intake of 227,214 Indian adults–aged 19 years and
older–across 29 states and seven union territories; the reported mean salt consumption levels varied between 5.22 and
42.30 grams per day.
The primary
data were obtained from various studies conducted between 1986 and 2015–till
November 2015–that reported mean or median dietary salt intake in Indians. As
many as 21 different studies were considered for the final analysis which
included 24-hour urine collection reports, 24-hour dietary recall surveys and
food questionnaire surveys.
The WHO
believes that high sodium consumption (>2 grams per day, equivalent to 5
grams salt per day) and insufficient potassium intake (less than 3.5 grams per
day) contribute to high blood pressure and increase the risk of heart disease
and stroke.
Eastern, southern states report more consumption
There was
wide variance in consumption among different regions and states.
In
urban areas, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Maharashtra and Gujarat
reported least consumption among all states–6-7 grams per day; in rural areas,
Haryana and all the above mentioned states–except Maharashtra–reported the
least consumption.
Tripura
reported the maximum consumption of salt across all states–13.14 grams per day
in both rural as well as urban areas.
“Over
the past 30 years, the average Indian diet has been transformed. Indians are
eating less of pulses, fruits and vegetables, and a lot more of processed and
fast foods,” according to Claire Johnson, lead author of the study. “Thus,
their diets are now full of salt, sugars and harmful fats which are increasing
the likelihood of high blood pressure, obesity and CVDs such as heart attack
and stroke.”
08.11.2016
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