Balance of Food

Salt is an abundant spice -- except too much is really not a good thing. The American Medical Association thinks so too as yesterday it overwhelmingly agreed to back a campaign to halve the amount of sodium in restaurant and processed foods over the next 10 years. The AMA also wants the FDA to revoke rules that have allowed sodium to go unregulated for decades. The rule has allowed salt and its component sodium to be treated as "generally recognized as safe." The standard limit is 2,300 milligrams per day, less if high blood pressure is an issue. Americans generally consume about 4,000-6,000 milligrams per day (that seems like it would be higher). One teaspoon of table salt has 2,300 milligrams. For those with low blood pressure who might not think they have to worry, consider this: the saltier your food, the more likely you will have more to drink. If that's water, that's fine. If you select soft drinks, lemonade, or even fruit juices, those calories/sugar/HFCS can add up. For those who do suffer from high blood pressure and other related maladies, cutting salt is crucial. Finding low-salt alternatives, especially in processed foods, has been difficult. Campbell's is switching to sea salt in its soups; sea salt has less sodium (something for other companies to consider). Try getting fast-food French fries without salt; they will do it but it's never easy. So, glad to see the AMA on board, and let's cut that salt.