The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends an adult daily salt intake of less than 5 grams. Despite this, the average Indian’s consumption is over double at a worrying rate. The WHO aims to cut population sodium intake by 30% by 2025, but progress has been lackluster. Graded 2 out of 4, India’s sodium score demonstrates the urgency for stronger measures to tackle this health issue. The recently released, ‘Global Report on Sodium Intake Reduction,’ illuminates the advancement of WHO’s 194 member states towards their 2025 objective.
The Necessity of Limiting Salt Consumption
Exorbitant salt intake can lead to significant health issues like hypertension, heart disease, and stroke. Diminishing sodium intake is vital as it’s linked to reduced blood pressure, thereby decreasing the likelihood of Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs). As the leading cause of death worldwide, CVDs deeply affect low and middle-income countries like India.
The rising mortality rates, higher prevalence in men, especially in southern states, and a broad pre-hypertensive population all contribute to the challenge of CVD and hypertension in India. In fact, the 2020 Report on Medical Certification of Cause of Death indicates that diseases of the circulatory system account for a staggering 32.1% of all recorded deaths in India, with hypertension as a major risk factor. The World Economic Forum foresees the Indian economy suffering losses exceeding USD 2 trillion from 2012 to 2030 due to CVDs.
Related Initiatives
In response, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) launched the Eat Right India Campaign. This initiative seeks to overhaul the Indian food system, ensuring everyone has access to safe, nutritious, and sustainable food. Moreover, FSSAI has initiated the ‘Aaj Se Thoda Kam’ social media campaign. Nevertheless, these efforts have not sufficiently reduced the average sodium consumption of Indians which remains disturbingly high. Research reveals that the typical daily intake of sodium in India is around 11 grams, nearly double the suggested 5 grams per day.
The Importance of Salt Consumption
Sodium chloride, commonly known as salt, serves essential functions in the body. Sodium, an electrolyte, helps balance bodily fluids besides aiding nerve impulses and muscle contractions. While crucial for bodily function, excessive salt consumption can lead to adverse health effects; hence moderation is key.
Addressing the Challenges
India needs a holistic national strategy to curb salt consumption, by involving consumers, industry, and the government. Collaboration between state and union governments is indispensable in the battle against hypertension caused by excessive sodium intake.
Reduction of sodium intake poses as a cost-effective strategy in the prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), which account for most deaths globally. A report indicates that enacting policies to limit sodium consumption could potentially save around seven million lives worldwide by 2030. This sodium reduction policy is integral to realizing the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of lowering NCD-related deaths.
