Males consuming more salt than females, STEPS report
December 16, Kathmandu
A person in an average consumes 9.1 gram of salt per day in Nepal.
According to a report recently released by Nepal Health Research Council a male consumes 9.6 gm of salt whereas a female consumes 8.7 gm of salt daily.
According to the report at least 2.6 per cent of people use methods to control salt consumption in food of which the number of male is 3 per cent and female is 2.2 per cent. This research is based on those who consume packaged foods, who do not consume packaged foods and those who do not eat outside from homes. According to STEPS survey 19.5 per cent of people consume junk foods daily or on a regular basis. Women consuming junk foods are 18.9 per cent while 21.1 per cent of men consume junk foods.
The survey findings reveal that people living in Karnali Province consume more salt than in other provinces in Nepal. The average salt intake of Province number 1 is 9.2 gm. A person in Province number 2 consumes 8.9 gm of salt. Meanwhile a person living in Province Number 3 consumes 9.3 gm. A person in Gandaki Province consumes 9.2 gm of salt while a person in Province Number 5 consumes 8.7 gm of salt. A person in Sudurpaschim Province consumes 9.1 gm of salt daily.
Both high or low intake of salt is harmful for health.
According to World Health Organization, adults should consume less than 2,000 mg of sodium, or 5 grams of salt, and at least 3,510 mg of potassium per day, according to new guidelines issued by the WHO. A person with either elevated sodium levels and low potassium levels could be at risk of raised blood pressure which increases the risk of heart disease and stroke.
