Canadians stuffing too much salt in diets, StatsCan says

Canadians are putting themselves at risk of developing serious health risks by opting for salty hotdogs and hamburgers along with sodium-packed pizzas and submarine sandwiches, a Statistics Canada report on sodium intake suggests.

The report, released Tuesday, found that most Canadians in all age groups were guilty of exceeding recommended sodium intake limits.

"Although some sodium is needed to control blood volume and to help cells function properly, most Canadians consume far more than is necessary, or recommended," the report's author Didier Garriguet said.

Using data from the 2004 Canadian Community Health Survey, researchers found that among people aged 19 to 70, 85 per cent of men and 60 per cent of women consumed more sodium than was recommended. The health survey did not include salt added to food.

Excessive sodium can lead to hypertension

According to the U.S.-based Institute of Medicine, surpassing the recommended upper limit of 2,300 milligrams of sodium daily for people over the age of 14 can lead to health problems including hypertension.Hypertension can cause strokes, heart attacks and kidney failure and is one of the leading causes of death in Canada.

"A number of studies have shown a link between sodium intake and hypertension," Garriguet said in the report. "When sodium intake rises in susceptible individuals, blood pressure tends to increase."

Canadian men took in an average of 4,100 milligrams of sodium daily while women consumed 2,900 milligrams. Even in children aged one to three, 77 per cent of children surpassed the daily limits, consuming nearly 2,000 milligrams a day. In total, the national Canadian average for daily sodium intake registered at 3,092 milligrams, one-third more than the recommended limit.

Sodium can add up quickly, according to the U.S.-based Mayo Clinic. For example, a cup of spaghetti noodles along with half a cup of spaghetti sauce has nearly 800 milligrams of sodium. A snack of pretzels, measuring 28 grams, contains 486 milligrams of sodium while one slice of ham luncheon meat has 350 milligrams.

The Statistics Canada report found that pizzas, sandwiches, hamburgers and hotdogs accounted for 19 per cent of sodium intake in people's diets, followed by soups at seven per cent and pasta at six per cent.

Milk-based drinks, chicken, potatoes, cheese, cereals, beef and sauces also boosted people's sodium intake, the report said.

People in Quebec and British Columbia consumed the most sodium, with an average daily intake for people above the age of one at 3,300 milligrams. Ontario was the only province to have levels below the national average at 2,871 milligrams.