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| Mrs. Deborah Chen Chief Executive Director Heart Foundation of Jamaica |
The Heart Foundation of Jamaica joins the rest of the World in observance of World Salt Awareness Week, March 8-14 under the theme: ‘More Flavour, Less Salt!’
Salt is a common staple found on most dining tables across
the island and has resulted in a portion of the Jamaican population eating more
than the recommended amount. We all know that we should be adding less salt to
our food at the table or during cooking, and getting this balance right is
important, because too much salt can cause health problems. Salt is added to so
many other products such as breads, breakfast cereals, cakes, biscuits and
sauces and often we can’t taste it. When eating at a restaurant it’s even
impossible to know how much salt is in the food because chefs add a different
level of seasoning each time they cook a dish.
Statistics highlight that 80% of the salt in our diets come
from commercially prepared foods, either because they are particularly high in
salt or because they are consumed frequently in large amounts.[1]
High sodium consumption of more than five
grams (one teaspoon) daily contribute to high blood pressure and increase the
risk of heart disease and stroke.
With the
increasing production of highly available processed foods, the dietary patterns
of Jamaicans have changed. As such, information about what is in the foods we
are buying should be easy to read and understand, because as consumers we have
the right to know what we are eating and this requires a joint effort on our
parts as citizens and the food industry, to do more to help us live longer,
healthier lives.
As the current COVID-19 pandemic has helped to highlight how
vulnerable we are especially as it relates to our health and nutritional status,
this Salt Awareness Week, the Foundation implores Jamaicans to limit their
salt/sodium intake, especially as hypertension is ranked amongst those health
conditions predisposing a fraction of our population to the COVID-19 virus. Salt intake of less than 5 grams per day for adults helps to reduce blood
pressure and risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke and coronary heart attack.
The principal benefit of lowering salt intake is a corresponding reduction in
high blood pressure. 1
Building
a healthier nation should be a concern for everyone. This
Salt Awareness Week, help us celebrate home cooking – the meals that shape our
cultures and societies, the meals we grew up with and the recipes we’ve tried
and loved. All with More Flavour, Less Salt!
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