Salty snacks equal soda-guzzling, heavier kids
Study suggests cutting back on salt, even a pinch, could curb obesity
The Associated Press
updated 3:12 p.m. MT, Wed., Feb. 20, 2008
DALLAS - Kids who load up on salty meals and snacks get thirsty, and too often they turn to calorie-filled sodas. So maybe cutting back on the salt is a good way to cut the calories.
That is the idea coming from a British study published Wednesday in an American Heart Association journal.
Salt is "a hidden factor in the obesity epidemic," said Graham MacGregor, a co-author of the study by researchers at St. George's University of London.
And researchers say all that salt is not coming from the salt shaker: About 80 percent comes from manufactured food.
"Most people think that sodium comes from the salt shaker. The salt shaker contributes less than 10 to 15 percent," said Dr. Myron Weinberger, a professor of medicine at Indiana University School of Medicine.
"Fast foods, for example, are just loaded with sodium. Processed foods are all very high in sodium," said Weinberger, who wrote an editorial related to the study published in the online journal Hypertension.
Benefits go on
Not only could less salt translate to fewer soft drinks and therefore fewer calories, but a modest reduction in salt has already been shown to lower blood pressure, which increases the risk of later-in-life heart attack and stroke, researchers say.
Also, several studies have shown a link between sugary soft drinks and obesity in children.
Reducing salt in manufactured foods can be done gradually, without the public even noticing, said Dr. Feng He, lead author of the study and cardiovascular research fellow at St. George's. She said a 10 to 20 percent reduction in salt is not even detectable.
"It's important for the food industry to make a reduction," she said.
The study suggested that cutting in half the amount of salt British children consume — a decrease of about half a teaspoon a day — would lead to an average reduction of about 18 ounces of sugar-sweetened soft drinks per week.
The study was based on diet data from Great Britain's National Diet and Nutrition Survey. Researchers looked at 1,688 British boys and girls — ages 4 to 18 — over a seven-day period in 1997.
They noted that the amount of salt eaten might be underestimated in the study because it did not include salt added during cooking or at the table. The researchers also found that more than half the fluids drunk by the children were soft drinks, and more than half of those were sugar-sweetened.
The United Kingdom began a government-led campaign to cut salt consumption in 1996 and researchers say more recent studies show that salt intake has already decreased.
Proposal to cut back on salt
In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration is taking public comment until March 28 on a consumer group's proposal to restrict the amount of salt in processed foods, among other options. And the American Medical Association has urged the government to require strong labeling of high-salt foods because if salt's connection to high blood pressure and heart problems.
MacGregor said that parents should look at food labels. And they should make sure children eat more fresh fruits and vegetables without adding salt, which stimulates the brain to want more fluid.
"Thirst is one of the most basic instincts. When you get thirsty, you have to drink," MacGregor said.
Full Version: Salt, Soda And Obesity
LAWLS Neighborhood > The Town Square: LivingAfterWLS Knowledge Center > Diet, Nutrition, Supplements
My thoughts are...DUH! I mean you really think it might help overall health if we limit our intake of "processed" foods and eat more fresh fruits and veggies???? Sounds like some of our wls rules to me...ok so I'm being a lil' sarcastic, but seriously, did we REALLY need a gov't study to tell us that processed foods have more sodium vs. home prepared foods/fresh ingredients??? I don't think so...salt is a preservative, so is sugar that's why one or both are used in even "home" canning...again I say....DUH! Also, most of those "sugary" drinks have sodium in them as well....
Thanks for sharing this info though...it's always nice to know how our FDA is spending our $$$$...how do we publicly comment on this issue???
Blessings!
Thanks for sharing this info though...it's always nice to know how our FDA is spending our $$$$...how do we publicly comment on this issue???
Blessings!
Kaye, this is real 'food for thought'. Of course my first reaction was that I already know all of this but obviously, a lot of people don't or they don't care. One of my most serious concerns is the alarming rate of the growth of obesity in children. I am horrified every time I have to walk the halls of Jake's high school and look at the overfed bodies and the slovenly appearance of the students there. It is so much easier to hand the youth of America a bag of chips and a can of soda than it is to teach them proper nutrition which would serve them so much better. When did American stop nurturing her children and start ignoring them?
I know this seems like a "DUH" to us, but consider this....
Many WLS post-ops go to eating pretzels or crackers because they go down smoothly. Pretzels and crackers are salty so we need to wash them down with liquids. And what do pretzels + liquids = ?
slider foods.
And what do slider foods = ?
cessation of weight loss, or worse, weight gain......
and that, my friends, is how this "science" applies to us.
QUOTE(Kaye @ Feb 27 2008, 11:20 PM) 
Salty snacks equal soda-guzzling, heavier kids
Study suggests cutting back on salt, even a pinch, could curb obesity
The Associated Press
updated 3:12 p.m. MT, Wed., Feb. 20, 2008
DALLAS - Kids who load up on salty meals and snacks get thirsty, and too often they turn to calorie-filled sodas. So maybe cutting back on the salt is a good way to cut the calories.
That is the idea coming from a British study published Wednesday in an American Heart Association journal.
Salt is "a hidden factor in the obesity epidemic," said Graham MacGregor, a co-author of the study by researchers at St. George's University of London.
And researchers say all that salt is not coming from the salt shaker: About 80 percent comes from manufactured food.
"Most people think that sodium comes from the salt shaker. The salt shaker contributes less than 10 to 15 percent," said Dr. Myron Weinberger, a professor of medicine at Indiana University School of Medicine.
"Fast foods, for example, are just loaded with sodium. Processed foods are all very high in sodium," said Weinberger, who wrote an editorial related to the study published in the online journal Hypertension.
Benefits go on
Not only could less salt translate to fewer soft drinks and therefore fewer calories, but a modest reduction in salt has already been shown to lower blood pressure, which increases the risk of later-in-life heart attack and stroke, researchers say.
Also, several studies have shown a link between sugary soft drinks and obesity in children.
Reducing salt in manufactured foods can be done gradually, without the public even noticing, said Dr. Feng He, lead author of the study and cardiovascular research fellow at St. George's. She said a 10 to 20 percent reduction in salt is not even detectable.
"It's important for the food industry to make a reduction," she said.
The study suggested that cutting in half the amount of salt British children consume — a decrease of about half a teaspoon a day — would lead to an average reduction of about 18 ounces of sugar-sweetened soft drinks per week.
The study was based on diet data from Great Britain's National Diet and Nutrition Survey. Researchers looked at 1,688 British boys and girls — ages 4 to 18 — over a seven-day period in 1997.
They noted that the amount of salt eaten might be underestimated in the study because it did not include salt added during cooking or at the table. The researchers also found that more than half the fluids drunk by the children were soft drinks, and more than half of those were sugar-sweetened.
The United Kingdom began a government-led campaign to cut salt consumption in 1996 and researchers say more recent studies show that salt intake has already decreased.
Proposal to cut back on salt
In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration is taking public comment until March 28 on a consumer group's proposal to restrict the amount of salt in processed foods, among other options. And the American Medical Association has urged the government to require strong labeling of high-salt foods because if salt's connection to high blood pressure and heart problems.
MacGregor said that parents should look at food labels. And they should make sure children eat more fresh fruits and vegetables without adding salt, which stimulates the brain to want more fluid.
"Thirst is one of the most basic instincts. When you get thirsty, you have to drink," MacGregor said.
Study suggests cutting back on salt, even a pinch, could curb obesity
The Associated Press
updated 3:12 p.m. MT, Wed., Feb. 20, 2008
DALLAS - Kids who load up on salty meals and snacks get thirsty, and too often they turn to calorie-filled sodas. So maybe cutting back on the salt is a good way to cut the calories.
That is the idea coming from a British study published Wednesday in an American Heart Association journal.
Salt is "a hidden factor in the obesity epidemic," said Graham MacGregor, a co-author of the study by researchers at St. George's University of London.
And researchers say all that salt is not coming from the salt shaker: About 80 percent comes from manufactured food.
"Most people think that sodium comes from the salt shaker. The salt shaker contributes less than 10 to 15 percent," said Dr. Myron Weinberger, a professor of medicine at Indiana University School of Medicine.
"Fast foods, for example, are just loaded with sodium. Processed foods are all very high in sodium," said Weinberger, who wrote an editorial related to the study published in the online journal Hypertension.
Benefits go on
Not only could less salt translate to fewer soft drinks and therefore fewer calories, but a modest reduction in salt has already been shown to lower blood pressure, which increases the risk of later-in-life heart attack and stroke, researchers say.
Also, several studies have shown a link between sugary soft drinks and obesity in children.
Reducing salt in manufactured foods can be done gradually, without the public even noticing, said Dr. Feng He, lead author of the study and cardiovascular research fellow at St. George's. She said a 10 to 20 percent reduction in salt is not even detectable.
"It's important for the food industry to make a reduction," she said.
The study suggested that cutting in half the amount of salt British children consume — a decrease of about half a teaspoon a day — would lead to an average reduction of about 18 ounces of sugar-sweetened soft drinks per week.
The study was based on diet data from Great Britain's National Diet and Nutrition Survey. Researchers looked at 1,688 British boys and girls — ages 4 to 18 — over a seven-day period in 1997.
They noted that the amount of salt eaten might be underestimated in the study because it did not include salt added during cooking or at the table. The researchers also found that more than half the fluids drunk by the children were soft drinks, and more than half of those were sugar-sweetened.
The United Kingdom began a government-led campaign to cut salt consumption in 1996 and researchers say more recent studies show that salt intake has already decreased.
Proposal to cut back on salt
In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration is taking public comment until March 28 on a consumer group's proposal to restrict the amount of salt in processed foods, among other options. And the American Medical Association has urged the government to require strong labeling of high-salt foods because if salt's connection to high blood pressure and heart problems.
MacGregor said that parents should look at food labels. And they should make sure children eat more fresh fruits and vegetables without adding salt, which stimulates the brain to want more fluid.
"Thirst is one of the most basic instincts. When you get thirsty, you have to drink," MacGregor said.
Thanks for this Kaye. Before I came to your Neighborhood, I relied on Diet Pepsi and pretzels for snacks between meals.
Little did I know that this was the "killer slurry" of slider-food syndrome. I was never full and always looking for more
carbs to munch! The pounds crept on and I was clueless as to why this was the case! I wasn't taking in the protein my
body required to thrive and stay healthy/ strong. Now I know that protein first gives me the full feeling that
keeps me content and properly nourished while I avoid over salty carbs and soda that had me in a real rut!
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