How to choose salt

According to the source of raw materials, salt can be sea salt, lake salt, well salt, mineral salt and plant salt. According to the processing technology of salt, salt can be divided into iodized salt, low sodium salt and seasoning salt. Because iodine deficiency is widely distributed in China, iodine deficiency will lead to goiter in adults (big neck disease), iodine deficiency in children will affect height and mental retardation, and iodine deficiency in pregnant women will affect fetal malformation and even abortion, which makes it necessary to add iodine to our salt. Obviously, this is determined from the level of public health. Many people worry that iodized salt will cause thyroid lesions and even cancer, which is completely unscientific.

How to choose salt?

Salt can not only flavor, but also provide necessary minerals, vitamins and other nutrients for the human body, so the choice of salt is very important to maintain the normal operation of the body.

Too high sodium content or insufficient potassium content in human body may lead to hypertension, thus increasing the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. The dietary guidelines issued by the World Health Organization say that adult's sodium intake should be lower than 2g/ day and potassium intake should be higher than 3.5g/ day. A study on 20 19 reported that the average salt intake of China people was > 10g/ day, which was several times higher than the recommended amount. Low sodium salt contains 10%-35% potassium chloride, which reduces the content of sodium and increases the content of potassium in table salt, and is especially suitable for China's current national conditions.

The Guide to Iodine Supplement for China Residents issued by the National Health and Family Planning Commission on 20 18 emphasized the importance of moderate iodine intake for thyroid hormone synthesis and brain development of offspring. Iodized salt is considered by the World Health Organization as the most economical and effective fortified food for preventing and treating iodine deficiency disorders. The China Nutrition Society recommends that the iodine intake of the general population aged > 14 is 120 μ g/day (the iodine intake of pregnant women is 230 μ g/day).

In addition to salt with different proportions of nutrients, there are many products advertised as refined salt on the market. However, a study of 20 19 of China Academy of Medical Sciences found that refined salt may have adverse effects on human nutrition and health compared with common salt.

As mentioned above, the choice of salt should not follow the trend, but be based on the actual situation of the family. In order to prevent cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases such as hypertension, we should choose low sodium salt to reduce sodium intake and increase potassium intake. If you have pregnant women at home or are located in a high incidence area of iodine deficiency disorders, you should choose iodized salt. If you are located in an area with high incidence of hyperthyroidism, you should choose low iodized salt or non-iodized salt. Do not choose refined salt.