Alert: This bad habit of Indians is becoming the cause of a 'silent epidemic', ICMR's strict warning

Indians Taking Too Much Salt: Cases of heart diseases are increasing rapidly all over the world. Until a few decades ago, it was considered a disease of old age, however now people of younger age, even those under 20, are not only falling prey to heart attacks, but a large number of people are also dying from it.

Health experts say that the way our lifestyle and eating habits are increasing, the risk of heart diseases has also increased in proportion to it.

Many studies have been constantly warning about the relationship between dietary disorders and heart diseases. Excessive consumption of sodium (edible salt) is considered to be a major reason for this. The worrying thing is that the Indian population is consuming too much salt, due to which health experts have again alerted.

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has also expressed concern on this subject in a recent report and advised all people to be careful.

People in India are consuming too much salt. - Photo: Adobestock

'Indians are consuming too much salt'

Scientists of ICMR's National Institute of Epidemiology said, people in India are consuming too much salt. Excessive salt intake is promoting a silent epidemic in India. This not only increases the risk of heart diseases but this habit can also increase high blood pressure, stroke and kidney diseases.

To solve this problem, scientists have started a study to reduce community-based salt intake, in which it is being considered to focus on low sodium salt options and promote them.

Excessive intake of salt and its side effects - Photo : Freepik

How much salt is good for health?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations, a person should consume less than 5 grams of salt per day. However, studies show that Indians in urban areas are consuming about 9.2 grams of salt daily. Not only this, in rural areas too, it is about 5.6 grams/day. Both of these are much more than the recommended amount.

Dr. Sharan Murali, senior scientist at the National Institute of Epidemiology (NIE) and principal investigator of the study, said, we are looking at the method by which a part of sodium chloride is replaced with potassium or magnesium salts.

Excess sodium and risk of heart diseases - Photo : Freepik.com

What do experts say?

Lead study author Dr. Sharan Murali said, low sodium intake helps reduce blood pressure and improve overall heart health. Just switching to low-sodium salt can reduce blood pressure by an average of 7/4 mmHg, it is a small change that has a big impact.

To tackle the problem of high salt intake, NIE has started a three-year project in Punjab and Telangana in collaboration with ICMR. Its goal is to create awareness among people to reduce salt intake by health workers at Health and Wellness Centers (HWCs).

Advice to reduce salt intake – Photo : freepik

It is important to maintain balance in diet, body and heart

Dr Murali said, it is not just about reducing salt. It is also about maintaining balance in our diet, our body and our heart. Together, by reducing salt intake we can bring about lasting change.

Health experts say, if we all reduce our salt intake from today itself, it can go a long way in preventing the risk of heart diseases in the future. Eating less salt does not just mean adding less salt to food, chips, namkeen and junk foods also contain hidden salt; we should pay special attention to this as well.

PC:Amar Ujala/Freepik