Proposed guidelines in local school wellness policies would ensure food and beverages marketed to children in schools are consistent with the Smart Snacks in School standards, which are set to go into effect for the 2014–2015 school year. First Lady Michelle Obama and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack recently announced the proposed guidelines, which set limits for how much sodium, fat, and sugar snacks can contain. Even though 90% of school districts are now meeting the overhauled nutrition standards for school lunches, students are still being flooded with advertising for junk food in schools, according to the First Lady. For example, a study published last month in JAMA Pediatrics found that nearly two thirds of elementary school students are offered coupons for fast food at school through programs such as Pizza Hut’s Book It! Program, which uses pizza as a reading incentive. – NPR
Cut Salt by a Little to Bring Big Heart Benefits
Reducing salt consumption by half a teaspoon each day (roughly 1,150 milligrams of sodium) significantly improved blood vessel function in overweight and obese individuals with normal blood pressure, potentially lowering their risk for cardiovascular disease, according to a new report published in the journal Atherosclerosis. The magnitude of the blood vessel changes recorded in the study could shift a person from a high-risk category to a low-risk one for heart attack and stroke. For 6 weeks, participants followed a diet containing 9 grams of salt (3,450 milligrams of sodium) each day—the same as the average American’s diet. Then they followed a reduced salt diet of 6 grams (2,300 milligrams of sodium) each day—the recommended daily limit for the general population of Americans—for another 6 weeks. Blood vessel function significantly increased after 2 days on the reduced salt diet compared with the higher salt diet, improving by 45% over the full 6 weeks. – The Wall Street Journal
Vegetarian Diets May Lower Blood Pressure
People who eat a vegetarian diet tend to have lower blood pressure than non-vegetarians, according to a new review of past studies published in JAMA Internal Medicine. A plant-based diet is typically low in sodium and rich in potassium, two factors which work together to lower blood pressure, according to lead author Yoko Yokoyama. Although the results of the review are encouraging, it did not take into account sodium in the diet and lifestyle factors, according to Alice Lichtenstein, director of the Cardiovascular Nutrition Laboratory at Tufts University, who was not involved with the study. “Individuals who adhere to vegetarian diets are likely to use fewer processed foods, the major source of dietary sodium,” she said. “Until we understand the contribution of these factors we can’t attribute the effect observed solely to adhering to a vegetarian diet.” – Reuters
Bacon Addiction: Salt and Fat Creates Big Concern for Cardiovascular Health
Bacon cravings are a result of how salt and fat generate a fondness toward any type of food. Bacon sales in the United States increased 9.5% in 2013, hitting an all-time high of nearly $4 billion, according to MarketWatch. One study recently found that eating processed meats, but not unprocessed red meats, may raise consumers’ risk for heart disease and diabetes. Some food researchers have noted that humans have an innate craving for foods that contain three basic ingredients: salt, sugar, and fat. When breakfast meats are combined with sugar through the use of maple syrup or confectioner’s sugar, the craving may be even stronger. – Science World Report
Take the Pressure Off
High blood pressure is preventable, according to Simon Stewart, head of preventive health at the Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute, which recently released The Baker IDI Blood Pressure Diet and Lifestyle Plan. When the amount of sodium in the blood increases, blood vessels retain more fluid to try to balance the concentration of sodium. Shopping habits are a good place to start to avoid excess sodium. For example, vegetables and fruit provide potassium, magnesium, and fiber, all of which assist in lowering blood pressure. Doubling vegetable and fruit intake and cutting salt intake in half could reduce systolic blood pressure by as much as four points, according to the institute’s new book. – The Age