Americans obesity is addressed by the Federal Government: Put down that salt shaker!
The newest dietary guidelines have just been released by the federal government urging Americans to cut down on their salt intake.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture along with the Health and Human Services Department updates their dietary guidelines every five years. This recommended change could be a tough one for Americans as it is suggesting that anyone the age of 51 or older, African-Americans, those with kidney disease, diabetes or high blood pressure cut their sodium intake to a half of a teaspoon.
That equals almost half of the American population.
For the other half of Americans, they recommended decreasing their consumption of sodium by one-third, which equals the amount of one teaspoon per day, about 2,300 milligrams.
The Dietary guideline focuses on the ever growing issue of obesity in America.
“Americans are experiencing an epidemic of overweight and obesity. Poor diet and physical inactivity are linked to major causes of illness and death.”
Secretary of Health and Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius partnered with Thomas Vilsack, Secretary of Agriculture for a press conference held on Monday in Washington.
“We are asking people to think about calories in and calories out, what exactly are you eating and how much.”
The pressure brought on by the federal government as well as consumers and advocates is turning up the heat on major food makers. A number of these companies, including Kraft Foods Inc., General Mills Inc., Campbell Soup Co and others have committed to lowering the sodium content in their products.
The Food and Drug Administration has promised to continue to pressure food making companies to voluntarily lower sodium in their products or it will step in and regulate it.
Incremental changes in salt and fat intake coupled with an increase in physical activity will help us all lead healthier, longer lives.
Sources: www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines/dga2010/Dietaryguidelines2010.pdf
www.news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110131/ap_on_re_us_dietary_guidelines_salt
Comments
Stupid, How about limiting SUGAR?
I am sure you can find plenty of articles on limiting sugar!
It is getting easier now that grocery stores have a healthy section and food companies are also changing for the better!
Just make sure you read the labels. Sugar shows up under many names. A lot so items in the "healthy isles" are not necessarily better than the ones that aren't. Also, check the serving size - reducing it is a great way to cut sugar and fat, but if you eat more than one serving than you have lost the benefit.
Sugar and processed foods are the problem.
How about using REAL ingredients instead of artificial or subsitutes. Stop our bodies for being the landfills for chemicials.
Nothing like "one size fits all". Sounds like another Obama Administration proclamation. I am 62, use less than a half teaspoon of salt per day, eat one and one half meals per day, eat no processed food, work an industrial type job and still do not lose weight. What a bunch of crap!!!
Anonymous, things do not happen by it self, you'll only see smoke when there is fire. After reading so many articles and after being fearful with sudden death, you have realized to cut down you diet and slow you pace in eating. But what about the time when you were young and when you thought you were the one who was going to conquer the world just by eating whatever and whenever possible/ available?? Don't expect to lose your bulge after spend more than two third of your life eating junk and processed food just because "someone" supplied to you? People like you are sick and adamant, ignorant extra burden not only for mankind, but for the Mother nature too....
If you eat only one and a half meals a day, your body might be in starvation mode and making hyper use of every calorie you do consume. Or maybe you have thyroid or hormonal imbalance. What this has to do with the Obama administration, I am at a loss to understand. Stress also causes weight gain. Try losing some of the anger and focus on making the world a better place instead of blaming people.
That is your problem, a person should eat 5 SMALL meals throughout the day to loose weight. You also need to move your body.
Salt is probably the last thing contributing to obesity...For starters maybe the government should begin looking into the effects of the overwhelming amount of corn flour, corn syrup, corn vegetable oil, and everything else modified from corn, that has overtaken the American diet...
How about subsidizing vegetables and fruits so that they would more affordable? American Dietetic Association's Position Statement on Vegetarian Diets states that vegetarians have lower rates of hypertension, cancer, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and obesity. Maybe the government could endorse that if they really wanted to see a large level effect...
First of all I'm so surprised with GOOGLE that why this so important news is at the bottom of the page? If you love this country and if you are patriot then you should put your county, concern for its people first, before you start with some Mubarak person from Arabian country. Next thing I can guarantee that Ms. Kelly Jones doesn't have to write this article and Google doesn't have to post it at the bottom of the page, cause it's a given fact and the whole world know about "America" and its Bulging Obese problem...never
While the guidelines are a great start, they are not a cure all. In the 30 years since the dietary guidelines were established, obesity has more than doubled and nearly 34% of adults are now obese. Until people start taking ownership and stop making excuses, things won't get better. Each journey starts with the first step - as adults we have the power, now we just need to use it.
On the wings of Campbell Soup’s Ten-Year Plan To Reduce Childhood Obesity and hunger. Campbell Soup partner, the Camden Children’s Garden operated by the Camden City Garden Club, has been working alongside Camden residents for over 27 years to inspire health through gardening!
We are shouting from the roof top of our successes in creating 60 new food gardens produced in only 2 years and our being referred to by the University of Pennsylvania’s study, “Camden, NJ has perhaps the fastest growing community gardens in the country” as the gardeners studied grew more than 30,000 pounds of food in 2009 – that’s 139,000 servings of fresh produce.
Read more about the Camden City Garden Club's successes:
https://origin.library.constantcontact.com/doc208/1103337379926/doc/JQJ8...
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