Why India should cut down on its salt intake?

Excessive Sodium Consumption: The average sodium intake among Indians surpasses double the physiological requirement and significantly exceeds the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended daily salt intake of <5 g for adults.
Sodium Score: WHO has developed a sodium score system, ranging from 1 (lowest implementation) to 4 (highest implementation), to evaluate each member state’s efforts in reducing sodium intake and implementing related measures.
India’s Score: India’s sodium score is rated at 2, indicating the presence of at least one voluntary policy in place. However, this score underscores the pressing need for more robust and comprehensive measures to address the health implications associated with excessive sodium consumption.

What are some statistics related to salt consumption across the world and in India?

Sodium Consumption in India: The average sodium intake among Indians is more than double the physiological requirement, exceeding the WHO’s recommended daily limit of 5 g of salt for adults.
WHO’s Global Report: The World Health Organization (WHO) recently released the “Global Report on Sodium Intake Reduction,” which assesses the progress made by member states in reducing population sodium intake.
Slow Progress: Progress in this regard has been sluggish, with only a handful of countries making significant strides toward the target.
Sodium Score: The WHO introduced a sodium score ranging from 1 (lowest implementation) to 4 (highest implementation) for each member state. This score takes into account factors like the extent of sodium reduction measures and related actions.
India’s Efforts: India has implemented voluntary measures to reduce sodium in the food supply and promote healthier food choices. The country’s score of 2 signifies the presence of at least one voluntary policy in this regard.

Why is it essential for India to reduce its sodium intake?

Empirical Evidence: Reduced sodium intake is a cost-effective means to lower blood pressure.
Impact of Sodium Reduction: Reducing sodium intake by 1 gram daily results in a 5 mm Hg blood pressure reduction in 55-year-olds and lowers stroke incidence.
Critical Risk Factor: High blood pressure is a critical risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
Economic Impact in LMICs: Cardiovascular disease imposes a staggering economic burden of $3.7 trillion on low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) from 2011 to 2025, equivalent to 2% of their GDP.
Indian Economy: According to the World Economic Forum, India lost over $2 trillion between 2012 and 2030 due to cardiovascular disease.

How Cardiovascular disease and hypertension pose significant challenges in India?

According to data compiled by the Registrar General of India, WHO, and the Global Burden of Disease Study, cardiovascular diseases have emerged as the primary cause of both mortality and morbidity in the country.
Hypertension has been unequivocally identified as the predominant risk factor for these cardiovascular diseases in India.
Data obtained from the NFHS-5 (National Family Health Survey-5) indicates that there is a higher prevalence of hypertension among men aged 15 and above when compared to women.
The prevalence of hypertension is notably higher in southern States, particularly in Kerala, while northern states like Punjab and Uttarakhand also report elevated incidence rates.
The 2020 Report on Medical Certification of the Cause of Death underscores that diseases of the circulatory system account for 32.1% of all documented deaths. Among these, hypertension serves as a major risk factor.

What are the steps taken by the government to reduce salt intake?

The ‘Eat Right India’ initiative, implemented by FSSAI, strives to revolutionize the country’s food system, ensuring safe, nutritious, and sustainable nourishment for all citizens.

Under this initiative, FSSAI has introduced a social media campaign named “Aaj Se Thoda Kam” (Starting Today, a Little Less).

Challenges for India

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the primary cause of mortality and morbidity in India, according to data from the Registrar General of India, WHO, and the Global Burden of Disease Study.
Hypertension is recognized as the leading risk factor contributing to CVDs in India.
Data from the NFHS-5 indicates a higher prevalence of hypertension among men aged 15 and above compared to women.
Southern states, especially Kerala, exhibit a higher incidence of hypertension, while northern states like Punjab and Uttarakhand also report elevated rates.
The 2020 Report on Medical Certification of the Cause of Death reveals that circulatory system diseases account for 32.1% of all documented deaths, with hypertension playing a significant role as a risk factor.