IIT-Madras recently held a workshop to highlight the importance of lowering salt intake. They came together with the government of Tamil Nadu for this event and talked about the need for information on salt content in packaged foods to be revealed to reduce non-communicable diseases. As per their data, about 70 to 80% of salt consumption in Indians is from hidden sources and not direct consumption. Read on to learn more about this workshop and its conclusions.
IIT-Madras Highlights The Importance Of Lowering Salt Intake
A workshop highlighting the importance of salt reduction in Indians was held by IIT-Madras recently. They joined hands with Sapiens Health Foundation, Tamil Nadu’s Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, and a New York-based NGO, Resolve to Save Lives for this workshop. The workshop aimed to boost the collective fight against high salt consumption. It was attended by doctors, faculty, and students from IIT Madras, among others.
As per a report in The South First, during the event, Dr TS Selva Vinayagam, Director, Public Health and Preventive Medicine talked about the urgent need to combat non-communicable diseases (NCD) in the country. During his speech, he mentioned that NCD accounts for nearly 65% of the fatalities/mortalities in India. He went on to mention how modifiable risk factors like salt, sugar, and related items can help reduce the risks of NCD.
It was brought to the spotlight during the event that reducing salt intake is one of the most cost-effective strategies to reduce NCD in India. Giving an example based on a global report, they mentioned that by cutting down 30% of an individual’s current salt intake in India, they can reduce the chances of hypertension by 25%.
Importance Of Information On Salt Content In Packaged Foods
One of the most important points underscored during this event was that almost 70 to 80% of the salt which Indians consume is from hidden sources and not direct consumption! As per Dr TS Selva Vinayagam, due to the increased ease of ordering food and eating out, we don’t know where we end up consuming salt.
Giving a solution to this, Dr Rajan Ravichandran, Professor of Practice at IIT-Madras, and Chairman of the Sapiens Health Foundation said that it is important to introduce labelling and statutory guidelines on “salt/sodium contents” in packaged foods. They believe this will make people more aware of their food choices and also help them track their salt intake.
We love food but eating right and wise is a choice that each individual needs to make. So, the next time you feel like ordering from outside, make a better choice and go for healthier options instead of salt-loaded junk food.
Cover Image Courtesy: Canva (representative image)
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