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Sodium intake too high among children, CDC report says

Merced Sun-Star (CA) - 9/16/2014

Sept. 16--Children and teens are eating too much sodium, putting them at risk of developing high blood pressure and heart disease in the future, according to a new report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The report shows that 90 percent of school-age children in the U.S. consume more sodium than recommended. The CDC found that children ages 6 to 18 eat an average of 3,300 milligrams of sodium daily. The recommended maximum is 2,300 mg per day, equivalent to one teaspoon.

Amy Dieu, a registered dietitian at Golden Valley Health Centers, said high sodium intake is not uncommon for the children in Merced.

"Unfortunately, it doesn't surprise me," Dieu said about the study's findings. "We live in a culture where children eat a lot of processed foods."

Dieu said a contributing factor to high sodium intake is the lack of basic nutrition education. "Many people think if they buy low-fat foods, it's healthy, but a lot of these are processed items that contain high amounts of sodium." she said. The main culprit of high sodium consumption is not necessarily the salt shaker, but those processed foods, Dieu explained.

The report also revealed that 43 percent of sodium eaten by children comes from 10 foods they eat most often. These are: pizza, bread and rolls, cured meats, savory snacks, sandwiches such as cheeseburgers, cheese, chicken patties or nuggets, pasta mixed dishes, Mexican mixed dishes, and soups.

According to the CDC, 1 in 6 children have raised blood pressure levels. Lowering sodium in children's diets early on can help prevent heart disease, especially in children who are overweight.

Nancy Caudle, a registered dietitian and adjunct instructor at Merced College, said that while the number of children consuming too much sodium is high, she recognizes community efforts, especially in schools, to provide healthier meal and snack options.

"Schools are doing their part," Caudle said. "There's been a huge movement in schools for healthier eating. The nutrient content is very controlled in sodium and fats."

The pressure to resort to processed foods, according to Caudle, typically comes from poor time management and the extreme ease of affordable fast food.

"Many times you have working parents or single moms, and it just seems more convenient to resort to fast food, so you end up with a meal high in sodium and saturated fats and low in vegetables and fruits," she said.

Dieu explained that taste buds can be trained to crave less sodium by gradually reducing the intake amount. The best way to combat possible health risks associated with high sodium diets is to eat fresh foods, Dieu said.

"It's fairly easy, and it really comes down to grocery shopping," she said. "You should shop in the perimeter of a store. You go to the produce section, the meat and the dairy section. You always want to look for fresh items."

Dieu recommends that children be introduced to healthy portion sizes by following the 7-inch plate method. "Half of the plate should be vegetables, one quarter should be lean protein, like fish and meats, and one quarter should be filled with starchy foods, like sweet potato or brown rice."

Another way to teach children about fresh foods is by introducing them to farmers markets and having them sample different items, Dieu suggested.

Caudle said it is important for parents to model healthy eating habits for their children. "If we learn to eat healthy in our youth, then we will more likely be healthy adults."

Sun-Star staff writer Ana B. Ibarra can be reached at (209) 385-2486 or aibarra@mercedsunstar.com.

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