Chennai: With researches stating that Indian salt consumption rate is the highest in the world and that there is no account of the amount of salt that is directly or indirectly consumed here, doctors in Chennai stress on the need for people to limit their salt intake.
“Salt is very essential for the body. However, it is important that people are made aware of the ill effects of its overconsumption,” said Dr Ganga Mallan, a general physician.
“Consuming over seven grams of salt each day can be considered as over consumption,” she said. “One cannot generalize by blatantly stating that consumption of salt is bad. What one must focus on is the quantity of salt consumed and how it is consumed,” said Dr Samith A. Shetty, Consulting Diabetologist, Padmapriya Hospital.
“For example, adding salt to french fries could prove unhealthy as it is a combination of two bad things. However, adding a tinge of salt to a salad does nothing but add taste to it,” he elaborated. It is however essential that people suffering from diabetes, blood pressure, cholesterol or heart diseases, reduce their salt intake by at least 30 per cent, he stressed.
Community studies have showed that hypertension is directly proportional to the consumption of salt since childhood. “As long as the heart is normal, salt consumption will not be considered a problem. However, once the heart starts to fail, it could become an issue,” said Dr Anand Gnanaraj, Consultant Interventional Cardiologist, Apollo Specialty Hospitals, Vanagaram. He stressed on the need to create awareness on consuming low sodium salt.
“The geographical location can also be looked at as a parameter for salt consumption,” said Dr Mallan. As Chennai is a coastal area, it is important that people here consume less salt,” she added.
“Salt intake is not necessarily bad for one’s health. However, it is essential that people consume salt based on the amount of exercise they carry out each day,” said well renowned dietician and nutritionist Dr Dharini Krishnan.
