In reviewing the burden of disease attributable to nutrition , Joceline Pomerleau, of the Lab at School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and her colleagues concluded that the variations of health patterns in Europe were largely attributable to the differences in dietary intake. More specifically, they were able to show that intakes of fruits and vegetables were responsible for differences in age-standardized death rates from ischemic heart disease. The Salt Institute followed that line of thinking and, using the FAO and WHO databases on diet and health, determined the role of fruits and vegetables on cardiovascular disease in those countries included in the well-known InterSalt study. Predictably, the data revealed that the higher the percentage of fruits and vegetables and the diet, the lower the rate of cardiovascular disease. At the same time, the data indicated that cardiovascular disease decreased as sodium consumption increased. The data corresponds to the results of the initial DASH diet study which made it plain that a balanced diet, high in fruits and vegetables leads to good health, and is unaffected by salt intake.
In an effort to encourage lower sodium consumption, UK policymakers have removed the salt shakers from school lunchrooms. As a result, students are not only eating less sodium but also, unfortunately, fewer vegetables. Simply put, the most nutritious cruciferous vegetables (such as broccoli, cauliflower, kale, collard greens, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, and turnips) have a strong bitter component. Since it has been universally established that most children (and adults as well) need to increase their vegetable consumption significantly, the UK approach of substantial salt reduction seems misguided to say the least. The use of salt to improve the palatability of vegetables will do far more to promote an optimal diet than reducing the small amount of sodium chloride needed to make vegetables more palatable. The Salt Institute has initiated a research project at Ohio State University to determine the optimal level of salt required to increase the likelihood of people eating more cruciferous vegetables. Having this quantitative information will allow US policymakers to consider the inclusive benefit/risk package before repeating the rash actions of their UK counterparts. This project is scheduled to go ahead this month.
