Just one gram of salt makes a difference in heart attack  

Eye-opening research in China

Eating too much salt raises blood pressure, leading to a host of heart problems. A new study in China attempted to quantify this link between salt and heart problems, and the conclusion is clear. Less salt for a healthy heart.

Studying data from adults, the researchers believe that even a one-gram reduction in daily salt consumption is enough to prevent 4 million deaths from heart attacks and strokes by 2030. Note that China has an average daily salt consumption of 11 grams, at the time which the World Health Organization recommends consuming up to 5 grams.

The researchers also looked at more drastic reductions, for example a reduction of 3.2 grams by 2025 and 5 grams by 2030. They found that combined these two measures would halve deaths from heart disease.

The urbanization of China, and by extension the increase in the consumption of processed foods, has led to 40% of deaths in the populous country being due to heart problems. This prompted the government to introduce the Healthy China 2030 campaign , to drop the national daily salt consumption to 5 grams. Something that will certainly not be easy with a population of 1.4 billion people, however it has taken it very seriously and has even introduced educational programs on nutrition in its schools.

The research was published in BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health