March 10, 2004
NUTRITION NEWS FOCUS
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Today's Topic: Salt and Potassium News

The report from the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies of
Science recommends that healthy adults should consume 1500 milligrams
of sodium a day.  This amounts to 3.8 grams of salt, or less than a
teaspoon, and is considerably less than the 2400 mg previously
suggested.  This means that almost all Americans are eating too much
salt, most of it in processed or prepared foods.

Potassium blunts many of the negative effects of sodium and 4.7 grams
is the recommended amount.  Most American women get half that amount.
The highest food sources of potassium are winter squash, beans,
potatoes, cantaloupe, oranges, bananas, and other fruits and
vegetables.  Dairy products, meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and nuts are
also good sources.  All are low in sodium as well.  The full report
can be read at http://www.nap.edu/books.0309091691/html.

HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:  Most people don't have
hypertension, so should they be eating low salt diets?  We can't
answer that based on what we know today.  If we eat foods high enough
in calcium, potassium, and magnesium, can we eat more salt without
harm?  Maybe.  But remember that salt intake increases urinary losses
of calcium from the body, an aspect of nutrition often neglected in
this discussion.