Heart-disease death rate for Kentuckians over 35 in 2012-14 (CDC map) |
The College of Nursing study found that individuals with a certain "taste perception genotype" were more likely to eat more than the recommended amount of daily sodium than people without the genotype, says a UK news release.
Kentucky leads the nation in both heart disease and hypertension rates. Its death rate from heart disease is 394 per 100,000 people; the national rate is 328. Kentucky ranks sixth in the number of people diagnosed with hypertension, at 39 percent, according to the State of Obesity report. The report also projects that about 1.3 million Kentuckians will be diagnosed with heart disease by 2030.
Sources of salt you may not have thought about |
The American Heart Association recommends that most people eat no more than 2,300 milligrams of sodium per day (that's one teaspoon of salt) and ideally no more than 1,500 mg. The AHA says about 77 percent of a person's salt intake comes from prepared, packaged and restaurant foods.
An AHA graphic of "The Salty Six" shows six popular foods to pay attention to if you are watching your salt intake because they can add high levels of salt to your diet, including cold cuts and cured meats, pizza, soup, breads and rolls, chicken and burritos and tacos.
The UK release also offers some tips on how to reduce your sodium intake:
- Keep a journal of your salt intake (1/4 teaspoon salt = 575 mg sodium; 1/2 teaspoon salt = 1,150 mg sodium)
- Cook with minimal amounts of added salt, using herbs and spices instead.
- Read food labels.
- Opt for home-cooked meals so that you can control salt amounts
- Consider salty foods a treat, much like you would consider sugary treats
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