Salt has become deadly in India (Silent Salt Epidemic)! Know how to avoid this silent danger
Salt has become deadly in India (Silent Salt Epidemic)! Know how to avoid this silent danger
Salt has become deadly in India (Silent Salt Epidemic)! Know how to avoid this silent danger
Salt has become deadly in India (Silent Salt Epidemic)! Know how to avoid this silent danger
Do you know that the amount of salt we consume every day is slowly ruining our health? There is a “Silent Salt Epidemic” going on in India , the effect of which is slowly showing but its consequences can be very dangerous. ICMR-NIE i.e. Indian Council of Medical Research – National Institute of Epidemiology has recently said this in its report.
How much is salt consumption in India?
What does WHO say?
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), no person should consume more than 5 grams of salt in a day .
How much are people eating in India?
Urban people are consuming an average of 9.2 grams of salt every day .
Rural people are consuming an average of 5.6 grams of salt every day .
This means that most of us are consuming twice the amount of salt than required , and this is silently giving rise to many diseases.
What effect does this have on health?
When we consume more salt than required, the amount of sodium in our body increases , which can cause these serious diseases:
High blood pressure (hypertension)
Heart attack
Brain Stroke
Kidney disease
Since these diseases develop slowly, they are being called “silent epidemics”.
What did ICMR-NIE do?
ICMR-NIE has started a 3-year study project to solve this problem . This study is currently going on in Punjab and Telangana .
What will happen in this study?
People with high blood pressure will be given advice and information on how to reduce salt in their diet.
Community health workers will be trained so that they can make people aware.
People will be told where salt is hidden in their food , such as:
Chips
Salty
Pickles
Bread
Biscuit
What is Low-Sodium Salt?
ICMR says that we all should gradually move towards Low-Sodium Salt . It has less sodium and more potassium, which is better for our body.
what are the advantages?
It helps in reducing blood pressure .
Reduces the risk of heart attack and stroke.
What's the problem?
Low-Sodium Salt is available in very few shops.
Its price is also double — ₹5.6 per 100 grams , while common salt is ₹2.7 per 100 grams .
This means that common people find it difficult to purchase this salt, and awareness is also low.
Digital campaign for awareness: #PinchForAChange
ICMR-NIE has launched a campaign on social media – #PinchForAChange . It stands for:
“Reduce salt a little bit, make a big difference.”
In this campaign people are being told that:
How much salt are they consuming daily?
Where is salt hidden?
How can it be reduced gradually?
What is the way forward?
If this project of ICMR is successful, then it can be implemented in health centers across the country. In this, health workers will advise people to reduce salt.
What should we do?
A few easy steps:
Reduce salt in your food, especially do not add salt on top.
Use low-sodium salt, especially if you have blood pressure problems.
Stay away from chips, salty and processed foods.
Check your blood pressure every week.
Tell your family and friends about this too.
conclusion
People in India are consuming more salt than they need, and this is slowly increasing heart, brain and kidney diseases . ICMR's report is a warning that if we do not wake up now, this crisis will deepen in the future.
“Just reduce salt by a pinch – keep your heart safe.”
If you also want your family to remain healthy, then start reducing salt little by little from today itself.
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