In an Op-Ed to the Seattle Times, Northwest Kidney Centers Nutrition Manager Katy Wilkens responds to the Food and Drug Administration’s revised guidelines that aim to reduce the amount of salt Americans consume.
Halt the salt — it can save lives and health care costs
In my work as a registered dietitian for kidney patients on dialysis, I’ve been advocating for reduced salt intake for more than 40 years. The best way to avoid the tragedy of kidney failure is to follow a healthy, low-sodium diet.
There is a strong relationship between salt intake and high blood pressure: Eating more salt raises blood pressure. Prolonged high blood pressure causes heart disease, stroke and kidney failure, tying people to a lifetime of invasive medical therapy and consuming more than $28 billion in Medicare costs for dialysis alone.