WHO advocates salt reduction to prevent heart disease
New Delhi: The World Health Organisation (WHO) Sunday advocated salt reduction to prevent and control non-communicable diseases as high salt intake increases the risk of high blood pressure and is associated with heart disease and stroke. "The WHO recommends a daily salt intake of less than five grams per adult or just under a teaspoon. The recommendation is even lower for children, depending on their energy needs," Poonam Khetrapal Singh, WHO regional director for South-East Asia said in a message on the occasion of World Heart Day. High salt intake increases the risk of high blood pressure and is associated with heart disease, stroke and other diseases. An estimated 2.5 million deaths could be prevented each year if global salt consumption were reduced to the recommended level, she said. Singh added that reducing salt consumption is a cost-effective public health intervention and needs a multi-pronged and multi-sectoral approach in which everyone has to contribute. ...