Beware of the Hidden Salt in Your Food!

A group of researchers warns that many processed foods contain hidden salt which can make you consume more than the recommended daily intake. Study authors recommend taking urine samples every day to accurately assess your sodium intake.

Sodium intake can vary from one day to another, and too much salt can lead to hypertension or death. A recent study has confirmed it.

Study authors explained that past studies on sodium’s health risks have mixed findings because the sodium intake is hard to estimate. Lead researcher Nancy Cook noted that salt is extremely hard to track.

Sodium is hidden — you often don’t know how much of it you’re eating, which makes it hard to estimate how much a person has consumed,

Cook said.

The researcher recommends using sodium excretions like urine samples for several days. The latest study used multiple measures to ensure that the sodium levels are accurately measured.

There’s a Link Between Too Much Salt and Premature Death

Usually, sodium intake is assessed through a spot test based on a urine sample. But sodium levels can vary throughout the day so one sample is not enough. Scientists have used 24-hour samples in their study. What’s more, sodium intake  does not stay the same over a week, so you’ll need to take several samples.

Past research used the Kawasaki formula and urine samples. The latest study used the formula too but added several other methods of calculation to the mix. Also, multiple urine samples were taken over several, non-consecutive days.

Around 3,000 people were involved in the latest study. The new method revealed an association between too much salt in people’s diet and a higher risk of premature death.

The study was published in the journal International Journal of Epidemiology.
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