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What I find interesting is that this issue about sodium being unhealthy never really reached Europe (or at least Germany). While the US was advertising "low sod

by dnate 11y ago

What I find interesting is that this issue about sodium being unhealthy never really reached Europe (or at least Germany). While the US was advertising "low sodium" on their products we are still mostly advertising "low fat" and have some "low carb" pioneers. It seems to me that the whole "sodium is bad" scheme was a poorly supported health tip gone viral.

metafunctor 11y ago
Reducing sodium intake has been a thing doctors recommend in Finland, at least. Ask any nurse, and they will tell you that sodium intake is definitely connected with high blood pressure and heart disease. Also, they will tell you need to drink lots of milk to keep your bones strong. Also a piece of "science" on it's way out.
- pkofod 11y ago
  Same in Denmark, but probably mostly amongst my parents' or grandparents' generation (I'm mid 20s).
- rapala 11y ago
  I was under the impression that many Finns have a genetical risk of hypertension. Thus studies about the link between salt intake and hypertension have been conducted, for example http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17046432 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17046432. I haven't actually read the paper, but the abstract has this claim: "During the past 30 years, the one-third decrease in the average salt intake has been accompanied by a more than 10-mm Hg fall in the population average of both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and a 75% to 80% decrease in both stroke and coronary heart disease mortality in Finland."
leonroy 11y ago
It certainly reached the UK. I recall salt manufacturers being up in arms when the government started pushing for lower salt intake a good few years ago. A few brave scientists even appeared onscreen to say that sugar not salt was the real problem. At the time though there was less hostility to sugar so the salt restrictions went into force and I believe the sugar lobby even were able to squash a few reports condemning excessive sugar intake.
- GordonS 11y ago
  Yep, here in the UK it's one of those 'facts' that everybody 'knows'. It's so ingrained in many people that reviews such as this one will not change their attitude.
ableal 11y ago
In my corner (Portugal), there have been noises to legislate lower salt in bread, etc. And the health professionals are definitely on board with that, they've been advising lower salt intake for blood pressure for many years.
arnoooooo 11y ago
France has passed a law a few years ago that makes it mandatory to have the phrase "For your health, limit your salt, sugar and fat intake" on all ads for food.

by dnate 11y ago

metafunctor 11y ago

Reducing sodium intake has been a thing doctors recommend in Finland, at least. Ask any nurse, and they will tell you that sodium intake is definitely connected with high blood pressure and heart disease. Also, they will tell you need to drink lots of milk to keep your bones strong. Also a piece of "science" on it's way out.

pkofod 11y ago
Same in Denmark, but probably mostly amongst my parents' or grandparents' generation (I'm mid 20s).
rapala 11y ago
I was under the impression that many Finns have a genetical risk of hypertension. Thus studies about the link between salt intake and hypertension have been conducted, for example http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17046432 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17046432. I haven't actually read the paper, but the abstract has this claim: "During the past 30 years, the one-third decrease in the average salt intake has been accompanied by a more than 10-mm Hg fall in the population average of both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and a 75% to 80% decrease in both stroke and coronary heart disease mortality in Finland."

leonroy 11y ago

It certainly reached the UK. I recall salt manufacturers being up in arms when the government started pushing for lower salt intake a good few years ago. A few brave scientists even appeared onscreen to say that sugar not salt was the real problem. At the time though there was less hostility to sugar so the salt restrictions went into force and I believe the sugar lobby even were able to squash a few reports condemning excessive sugar intake.

GordonS 11y ago
Yep, here in the UK it's one of those 'facts' that everybody 'knows'. It's so ingrained in many people that reviews such as this one will not change their attitude.

ableal 11y ago

In my corner (Portugal), there have been noises to legislate lower salt in bread, etc. And the health professionals are definitely on board with that, they've been advising lower salt intake for blood pressure for many years.

arnoooooo 11y ago

France has passed a law a few years ago that makes it mandatory to have the phrase "For your health, limit your salt, sugar and fat intake" on all ads for food.