Clipping of news on Brazilian Culture, Law and Citizenship
03/14/2014
This article was translated by an automatic translation system, and was therefore not reviewed by people.
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Idec participates in the campaign to steer consumers to lower their salt intake
The Wash ( Global Action on Salt and Health , in Portuguese ) is a campaign to reduce salt intake for the entire population that values the importance of people knowing what they are eating and putting your health first . In 2014 , the campaign is focused on improving nutrition labeling , investigating the current global trend on nutrition labeling , to assess the countries that have already implemented a clear and consistent labeling and guide countries that have yet to do so .
The Awareness Week on Salt , which happens 10 to 15 /3, is part of the group Wash campaign and receives support from various organizations around the world , including Idec . The campaign also aims to educate consumers to opt for foods with less salt , using more of the information packaging of processed foods .
" IDEC supports this global initiative is necessary because combating the advance of chronic diseases on all possible fronts . Excessive salt intake is one of the possible risk of being modified with changing eating habits of the population and the effective decrease of the sodium content of food products factors . Learn more about the foods we eat and demand healthier products are important steps that change happen , "says the researcher and nutritionist Idec , Ana Paula Bortoletto .
In their social media Idec will provide information on the campaign and consumer tips . Follow on Twitter and Facebook using the # hashag menossal .
Sodium intake in Brazil
Most of the sodium consumed in Brazil today comes from table salt , because the dietary pattern of the Brazilian , thankfully , is still based on fresh foods and meals prepared from the combination of food and cooking ingredients . Nevertheless , household budget surveys indicate increased consumption of sodium contained in ready for consumption with added salt ( from 16% to 19 % ) foods . This increase is even more intense with the increase in income ( 12% among the poorest to 27% among the richest ) .
Excessive consumption of sodium can cause increased blood pressure and hypertension , a chronic disease that affects about a quarter of the adult population living in cities of the country Brazilians consume about 5 g of sodium per day , which exceeds by more twice the recommended levels of intake of the World Health Organization ( 2 g / day) .
How to identify if a food is high in sodium ?
In Brazil , it is mandatory the declaration of sodium content on all packaged foods . This information appears in the nutrition table , in milligrams per serving of food and the percentage that the consumption of this product portion equivalent to the recommended daily value . According to the Ministry of Health , the amount of sodium exceeds 400 mg in 100 g of food, this is considered a food rich in sodium, being injurious to health and therefore should be avoided .
Another way to identify whether the food has too much sodium , is looking at the ingredient list , indicating that the composition of the food product . They are listed in descending order of concentration , or if an ingredient as appears first in the list , it means that most of the product consists of it.
See the image below to read the nutrition label of foods :
Difference Between Salt and Sodium
The salt bought on the market called for cooking sodium chloride, that is, the combination of two chemicals. Salt is important for food preservation. Its composition is nearly 40 % to 60 % sodium approximately chlorine .
The sodium object of this campaign is different from table salt ( sodium chloride ) . It is a pure mineral used in the food industry ( in excess ! ) For flavor and also keep the processed foods .
Ie , to control the sodium in the diet is not enough to reduce the consumption of salt , but also observe the labels as sodium that food has . Due to excessive sodium intake in our population , the Ministry of Health signed voluntary agreements with industry to reduce this nutrient in processed foods . Idec monitor and evaluate this process . Read more about it here . In 2013 , ANVISA did a search on the sodium content in processed foods , check the result here .
Tips to reduce the sodium intake
- Learn which foods are high in sodium and try replacing these with healthier alternatives . Sodium-rich foods include :
a) meat and processed fish such as ham , bacon , salami, sausage , pate , smoked fish ;
b ) ready meals or " snacks " like pizza , pastries , burgers and other snacks ready , canned soups or packet ;
c ) snack foods such as crisps , salted popcorn ;
d ) dressings and sauces ;
- Look for versions of foods with less salt and " no added salt" , when buying , for example , canned vegetables and canned ;
- Compare the amount of sodium in foods , watching the nutrition information on the back of the package . Always choose choose one that has less sodium ;
- Avoid using concentrated broths and seasonings ready , they are high in sodium , monosodium glutamate and others;
- Use dried herbs , natural spices , pepper and fruit juices to season foods ;
- Also avoid the use of animal fat like bacon , bacon , among others ;
- Do not use salt shaker on the table;
- Do not add salt to food after it's done .
> Less Sodium , please!
Source : IDEC
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This article was translated by an automatic translation system, and was therefore not reviewed by people.