Working in Ottawa today --Salt of Life

Good morning folks,

I will be working in Ottawa today.

This just in..

Salt is a greater threat to life than terrorism!

Actually that was not the headline, but rather [U.S. Study reports that] Just 1,200 mg less sodium daily could save 100,000 lives and $24 billion a year.  

For Canadian conversion just divide by 10, although I think the article stated that U.S. salt intake was higher than Canadian.  -I'm in a taxi and left the newspaper on the plane.

Additionally, the study suggested that reduction could prevent 120,000 new cases of coronary heart disease, 66,000 strokes and 99,000 heart attacks.

The study has been published in the New England Journal of Medicine and is available online.

FYI, the recommended daily intake is 1,500 mg, just a bit more than 1/2 a teaspoon, and an upper limit of 2,300 mg.  

Yesterday while having lunch David, Mel and I were discussing this very topic, and Mel said that the ratio of sodium to potassium was also an important factor, that is your sodium intake should not exceed your potassium.

Have a good day, eat a banana.

Sent from my BlackBerry wireless handheld -- Envoyé sans fil par mon terminal mobile BlackBerry