Key Points

WHO recommends less than 5 grams per day of salt (roughly under a teaspoon) or below 2g of sodium per day.

However, "the mean salt consumption per day by an Indian is 11 grams per day, which is 2.2 times more than the WHO recommendation", the ICMR-NIE said.

According to the apex research body, regular iodised salt contains 40 per cent of sodium, much higher than the WHO limit. The WHO also suggests the use of low-sodium salt to ward off the risk.

"Major salt source is hidden in Indian diet and the hidden salt is fuelling a real risk," said the scientists at the ICMR-NIE. They pointed out common eatables such as pickles, pappad, namkeen, biscuits and cookies, bread, vada pav, chips, instant noodles, and canned and packaged foods as potential sources for excess salt.

"Excess levels of sodium are dangerous, as an estimated 1.89 million deaths each year worldwide are associated with consuming too much sodium," the research body said.

"Too much salt in diet raises blood sodium, triggers water retention, increases blood volume, raises blood pressure (hypertension), leading to stroke, cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, osteoporosis, and obesity," it explained.

To address the issue, the ICMR-NIE has initiated Project Namak (salt) -- a community-led salt reduction study. The three-year intervention project, launched in Punjab and Telangana, will evaluate the effectiveness of structured salt reduction counselling, delivered by health workers at Health and Wellness Centres (HWCs), in reducing blood pressure and sodium intake among individuals with hypertension.

The project suggests the use of low-sodium salt (LSS) -- dietary salts where Sodium (Na) is replaced with Potassium (K) or Magnesium (Mg). "Switching to LSS can lower blood pressure by an average of 7/4 mmHg (millimeters of mercury)," the scientists noted.

"However, LSS is not recommended for people with kidney disease or those on potassium-restricted diets," they added.

Sodium intake can also be reduced by eating mostly fresh, minimally processed foods, cooking with little or no added sodium/salt, limiting the use of commercial sauces, dressings, and instant products, and limiting the consumption of processed foods.

- IANS