Pass (on) the Salt: Shaking the Habit

Pass (on) the Salt addresses the health hazards of eating too much salty food, while also looking at ways to reduce overconsumption of salt. A female narrator explains that the human body needs sodium to function properly; however, while most foods contain sodium, Americans take in too much of it daily, primarily from processed or prepared items. Manufacturers and restaurants use sodium as a preservative, or to enhance taste, and consumers have become accustomed to the result. But as this guidance program notes, people can cut back and reverse their tolerance by consuming fresh and whole foods, preparing their own meals, and buying low-sodium or salt-free products. Still images, simple animations of veins and blood cells, and scenes of college-age men and women selecting, preparing, or eating healthy or unhealthy foods reinforce the concepts presented here. Citing the longstanding (but disputed) nutritional maxim that high salt intake leads to hypertension, this program delivers sound advice on eating well and generally pursuing a healthy lifestyle. Recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (M. Puffer-Rothenberg)