N.Y. state works to reduce salt in meals

ALBANY, N.Y., Dec. 30 (UPI) -- New York state's health department, along with the Broome and Schenectady county health departments, are partnering to reduce sodium in meals, officials say.

Dr. Richard F. Daines, state health commissioner, says Broome County will work to reduce sodium in meals served in school districts and to increase the availability and sales of lower-sodium products in grocery stores, while Schenectady County will work to reduce the sodium in meals served at senior centers, through home-delivered meals and at senior residential facilities.

Schenectady County will increase sales of lower-sodium items at coffee shops, diners and restaurants offering senior citizen or early bird specials.

The average American consumes more than 3,400 milligrams of sodium daily, but the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend limiting sodium to less than 2,300 milligrams daily.

However, adults at risk for cardiovascular disease -- people with high blood pressure, African-Americans and middle-aged and older adults -- should restrict sodium to 1,500 milligrams daily.

Eighty percent of the sodium in people's diets comes from packaged or processed foods or foods purchased in restaurants, with 5 percent coming from salt added to home cooking and 6 percent from salt added at the table.

"This makes it difficult for even the most motivated person to reduce salt intake," Daines says in a statement. "But people who reduce their salt consumption benefit immediately; blood pressure can decrease within weeks."