The doctor evaluated different types of salt: He highlighted one that we should all choose

– An excellent study was conducted in Lithuania, which examined how we consume salt and iodine. What are the results of that study?

– We conducted an extensive Natrijod study, in which we studied sodium and salt intake throughout Lithuania. It included more than 1,000 patients, men, women, children and pregnant women. The study showed that the Lithuanian population consumes twice as much salt as recommended by the World Health Organization, around 10 grams. And iodine is very little. 50 percent iodine was too low in the subjects who participated in the study.

– But most would say that there is no life without salt and that it would be added to food. What would you say to such a person?

– I would definitely agree that without salt it is impossible because it is involved in bodily processes. However, to meet physiological needs, we only need about 0.5 grams of salt per day. The WHO allows us to consume 10 times more, but we consume 20 times more. This causes many harmful effects on the body, both hypertension and other diseases, including cancer. Sodium is necessary, but not in the doses for which we take it.

– What is hidden salt? Why did I see that I kept consuming too much salt, even though I was consuming too little salt?

– That’s a very correct question. Most of the salt we consume is hidden. Some studies show that this represents up to 75 percent. you go out. It is added to various smoked, salty, canned products, sandwiches, sauces, French fries, even in natural mineral water. Therefore, it is necessary to look at the labels when buying a food, it indicates how much salt is in 100 g of the product. It is not recommended to exceed more than 1.5 grams per 100 grams of product. But the optimal amount is 0.3 g.

– The study emphasizes iodized salt. But there are other salts that are delivered as healthy. For example, salt from the Himalayas.

– Salt is salt and whatever it is, most of it is sodium. Be it sea, Himalayan, iodized or rock salt. However, the cheapest and simplest way to ensure that there is no iodine deficiency in the country is iodized salt. However, the iodine evaporates from the salt very quickly. The fact that we have them at home is not enough. It should be kept tightly closed in an airtight container, opened only when you are using it, placed in food that has already been prepared and sealed again. In addition, it has a shelf life, so it is recommended to buy small sachets that can be consumed quickly.

– So that compatriot who salted his food just before eating is right, because that way he protects iodine.

– You can say yes and no. It all depends on the quantity. If we do not add salt at the beginning of cooking and only at the end, we will consume much less. Our taste buds feel better with the salt that is on the outside. As a result, each time we salt prepared food, we consume less. This is one of the options since we consume less. Also, we will get iodine.

– We have little iodine in the water, which causes us various health problems. Since my childhood, I also remember other ways to enrich children’s health with iodine, when, for example, in kindergarten, children were added to simple iodine compote from a bottle to disinfect wounds. Is this method appropriate?

– This treatment method is not suitable because we get a completely different iodine formula. In addition, we can overdose it, which is also very dangerous, it can cause many side effects and damage both the thyroid gland and other organs. Therefore, it is recommended to consume iodized salt and foods enriched in iodine. The bread made in Lithuania is fortified with iodized salt as required. Feed, cows and chickens are also iodized. With products such as milk or eggs, we also get an additional amount of iodine, which helps to consume as much as necessary: ​​150 micrograms per day. However, people often try to improve the situation further and demand neighbors or rumors, myths that say that it is necessary to draw an iodine grid on the body or to place a bottle of iodine next to the bed. This is definitely not a way to increase iodine levels. The iodine that we obtain from food is the most suitable.

– Many patients ask if they cannot take the prophylactic iodine pills prescribed for the entire Vilnius region.

– Under no circumstances should iodine tablets be used prophylactically. They are intended only in the event of a nuclear accident. They only prevent the thyroid gland from absorbing radioactive iodine. The tablets should only be taken in the event of an accident, as they block the thyroid gland for several days.

– Another mineral that I love and that we don’t talk about is potassium. The French or Swiss, for example, have discovered that it is very important not only to reduce sodium intake, but also to maintain the potassium-sodium ratio to prevent cardiovascular disease. Sodium and potassium should be in our body in a ratio of 0: 9, but in Lithuania we consume twice as much sodium and twice as much potassium. Is this really the case and should we really take this mineral into account?

– Yes, our project has shown that we actually consume very little potassium. It has a certain protective effect on health: it protects against the effects of sodium in salt. Therefore, it is always advisable to consume more products that contain potassium, that is, dried fruits, walnuts, pumpkins, zucchini, bananas, legumes. Research has shown that men who eat more eat and also eat a little more potassium. But if we count it as a percentage, we really find that this mineral is very little. This upsets the electrolyte balance and can lead to health problems.

– Returning a little to salt, there is such salt without salt. It is probably bought mainly in pharmacies. It contains about 30-40 percent. total sodium is replaced by potassium. In this way, we not only reduce sodium intake, but also increase potassium. In addition, patients say that it is much saltier, which translates into less consumption. What do you think of this salt variant?

– There are conditions in which potassium is dangerous. Therefore, it is not recommended to prescribe this salt to everyone. There are people who suffer from kidney disease and too much potassium is dangerous for them. The use of this salt should be preceded by a consultation with a family doctor or nephrologist and a cardiologist. Alternatives to salt are being sought around the world, as this problem exists not only in Lithuania but also around the world. An alternative to potassium salt is also being considered. I think that in the future, when it is used more widely, it will be possible to talk about it more widely.