Excess salt stiffens the arteries and increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. The French Federation of Cardiology recalls the importance of monitoring doses during the summer.
Whether we are talking about grilling or barbecue, summer is a favorable period for a high consumption of products containing a lot of salt. If we add the cold cuts and crisps, which are widely consumed during Euro 2016 matches, the bill can quickly become salty. For these reasons, the French Federation of Cardiology (FFC) recalls the importance of reducing doses, in order to keep a healthy heart and arteries.
Indeed, excessive salt consumption has harmful effects on health. It can increase blood pressure and the risk of cardiovascular events. It also helps to increase the risk of water retention or osteoporosis. The daily salt intake recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) is less than 6 g. But consumption often reaches and exceeds 10 g per adult. “If we reduced salt consumption to 6 g / day, it is estimated that around 35,000 deaths from stroke or cardiovascular disease would be avoided each year in France », Specifies Professor François Delahaye, vice-president of the FFC, in a press release published on Thursday.
Cooking at home is beneficial
And so as not to get lost on your plate, the Federation provides benchmarks. It indicates that there is “1 g of salt in a slice of sausage, in a handful of crisps / crackers, four slices of bread, a slice of pizza, a third of a ham sandwich, etc. “To help control salt intake (40% of hypertensive people consume excessively), Pr Claire Mounier-Vehier, president of the FFC, therefore suggests cooking at home:” It is preferable to prepare yourself. even his meals, rather than resorting to purchased ready-made dishes, which are often too fatty and too salty. You can easily get into the habit of substituting salt with aromatic herbs and spices: turmeric, cumin, paprika, pepper, nutmeg… She adds.
Easy tools on the FFC website
Finally, the FFC stresses that it is also important to limit its overconsumption of bread, cold meats, aperitif biscuits, crisps, cheeses, condiments, ready-made soups, etc. And to prefer pasta and rice salads complete with fresh vegetables, accompanied by fresh fruit. The French Federation of Cardiology provides the public with many free tools to access precise and easy-to-implement advice. Among them, an infographic, a sheet on salt and another on high blood pressure with a small test to assess its risks.
Source: FFC
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