Don't take this news with a grain of salt

The Enlightened Eater investigates why Canada is a nation awash in sodium

Get ready to vote - no not in a federal election - but at your local supermarket and chain restaurant. The reason I say vote is because when you make a purchase, you're telling both food manufacturers and restaurants what you want. And considering a number of recent reports about the excessive sodium content in many Canadian prepared and packaged foods, consumers need to shake up the system.

Just look at the Nutrition Facts box on a range of packaged food at the supermarket or check out the sodium counts on the menus of chain restaurants across the country and it's easy to see how Canadians are being buried by a minefield of sodium. If you haven't seen the figures on just how much sodium we consume, here's a glimpse:

Statistics Canada figures from the 2004 Canadian Community Health Survey show that the average intake that year was 3,092 mg of sodium a day, one-third more than the maximum and double the actual recommended amount. Men aged 14 to 30 took in a whopping 4,000 mg a day. Women fared a little better with tallies just under 3,000 mg a day. What's more, these numbers don't include the salt we add to our food when eating or cooking.

According to the survey, more than 85 per cent of Canadian men and 60 per cent of women aged 19 to 70 exceeded the upper limit for the recommended sodium consumption. And the next generation? In the one to three age group, 77 per cent of children surpassed the recommended daily limit.

Keep in mind that the recommended daily quota for adults is around 1500 milligrams while the maximum is 2300 milligrams. For children, the recommendations are even lower.

So why are Canadians drowning in sodium?

Every day foods in Canada are packed with this mineral. It is one that is required by the body for a host of functions. But in excess, salt's a problem - and a big one at that. Sodium-laden diets are linked to high blood pressure and an increased risk of heart and kidney disease as well as stroke.

In the 2004 survey, processed foods accounted for 77 per cent of our average daily sodium intake. Offerings like pizza, sandwiches, submarines, hamburgers and hotdogs were some of the top offenders. But even when you choose seemingly-wholesome options, you can get a hefty dose of sodium. The question why has to be asked. A recent survey carried out by the global advocacy group, World Action on Salt and Health (WASH) showed that there are variations in food products around the world. WASH's mission is to improve health around the world through a gradual decline in sodium intake.

Posted in: Health