The FDA may limit the amount of salt found in processed foods. Salt, once used as currency, is now a menace, aiding and abetting such ailments as high-blood pressure, strokes, kidney failure and heart disease.
According to a spokesperson from the AMA, "Reducing the amount of salt found in foods by one half can reduce lives lost in America by 150,000 per year."
Americans don't know that they are consuming so much salt. The salt usually sneaks its way into to our meals via prepackaging or at restaurants.
One researcher believes that people eat so much salt as a result of cellular memory. "You see, in the olden days, salt was worth a lot of money. People would sail around the Cape of Good Hope and back for some salt. Our ancestors passed that knowledge down, cellularly. This is why when you are at a fast-food restaurant, you will instinctually grab several salt packages instead of just taking one. Your ancestors make you. You are haunted."
Most people think that the above theory is stupid. I told that researcher so, to his face.
The food manufacturers claim that the food is too bland for market without all that salt.
A guy who works at national chain restaurant told me that if he doesn't use a certain amount of salt in the foods, "guys" will show up in a black van without license plates. They all wear jumpsuits that have NaCl emblazoned on the chest. He said these men threatened him and his family.
Salt gets a bad rap. It is necessary to your survival. People can die from desalinization. (That was the word on my word-a-day calendar.) It should be used in moderation and can be found naturally in a lot of foods. In order to avoid high-blood pressure, it is best to consult with your doctor to find out how much salt is right for you.
Symptoms of high-blood pressure include:
To find medical services near you, click here.
