Advice for the heart

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor CHERYL CRUZ Desk Editor NIDA A. BUENAFE Sports Editor RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

Yesterday the world celebrated World Heart Day and the World Health Organization gave tips as it urged countries to implement evidence-based strategies to reduce salt consumption to trim the number of people experiencing heart disease, strokes, and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

The recommendation of the WHO for those who want to live longer and have a healthier heart is to cut back on salt intake as people who consume too much salt increase their risk of hypertension and other heart diseases and strokes. This means avoiding fast food meals, checking salt levels on food labels, and removing salt dispensers and bottled sauces from dining tables.

The WHO is targeting the reduction of global salt consumption by 30 percent by 2025 to prevent people from succumbing to NCDs which are the leading causes of premature death. It believes that it can save millions of lives if it achieves this target. This campaign is especially relevant in the Philippines where lifestyle-related diseases that are linked to common but preventable risk factors such as unhealthy diet, lack of physical activity, smoking and alcohol consumption are among the top causes of death.

Dr. Oleg Chestnov, WHO assistant director general for NCDs and mental health is urging governments to enforce regulations and policies that would ensure that food manufacturers produce healthier food with lower salt levels. He believes that the food industry, the WHO and national government can work together for the incremental reduction of salt levels in food products.

The abundance of processed food in the market and the flavorful cooking style of Filipinos makes this campaign worth noting, especially for families who would like to avoid dealing with the burden of heart disease and other NCDs. The WHO reckons that people currently consume 10 grams of salt a day on the average, an amount twice its daily recommended level of less than 5 grams of salt from all sources and this means a concerted effort will have to be necessary if we are to reduce our salt consumption to healthier levels.

Salt is such an important part of Filipino meals that it will take a conscious effort from the government, the food industry, and Filipinos themselves to limit our intake to the recommended and healthier levels but it is something that has to be done if we are to protect our families from the risks and costs of heart disease and other NCDs. The question would be whether government is willing to convince us to change our lifestyles or not.*