VOA标准英语2010-Pressure Mounts in US to Restrict Salt Le

Salt is believed to be the single most harmful thing in our food, contributing to high blood pressure

For years doctors have been telling patients with high blood pressure to cut down on the amount of salt in their diet.  Now a prestigious¹ panel of experts from the Institute of Medicine in Washington wants the U.S. government to put limits on how much salt, or sodium², food manufacturers can use.

It is hard to believe that many of us eat this much salt during one meal or even in one day.  Doctors and nutritionists advise us not to eat more than a teaspoon³ of salt daily.  That is about 2300 milligrams of sodium.

Salt makes food tastier.  But too much of it can have risky⁴ consequences, says Michael Jacobson of the Center for Science in the Public Interest.

 

"Salt is probably the single most harmful thing in our food, contributing to high blood pressure," Jacobson explained. "Which causes heart attacks and strokes."

The World Health Organization reports an estimated 17 million people die of heart disease and stroke every year. 

One major risk factor is a diet filled with fat and salt.

Morton Satin of the Salt Institute says salt, or sodium, is not really the culprit. "The problem is not salt," he said. "The problem that we're dealing⁵ with is that we don't have a balanced diet."

When the Food and Drug Administration does issue new limits on salt, the changes on the menu and on grocery food labels will take time to implement⁶. 

"Reducing salt in the food supply needs to be a gradual process for a couple of reasons," Dr. Margaret Hamburg said. Hamburg is the commissioner⁷ of the FDA. One, we need consumer tastes to adapt to a reduced level.  Also, for industry, salt in the composition of food products, is something that cannot be changed overnight.  They need to rework their recipes."

Some food manufacturers have already begun the process of cutting back on sodium content. 

Meanwhile, the best advice may come from doctors who are advising patients to cut back on salt voluntarily.

 

1 prestigious   

adj.有威望的，有声望的，受尊敬的

参考例句：

• The young man graduated from a prestigious university.这个年轻人毕业于一所名牌大学。
• You may even join a prestigious magazine as a contributing editor.甚至可能会加入一个知名杂志做编辑。

2 sodium   

n.（化）钠

参考例句：

• Out over the town the sodium lights were lit.在外面，全城的钠光灯都亮了。
• Common salt is a compound of sodium and chlorine.食盐是钠和氯的复合物。

3 teaspoon   

n.茶匙

参考例句：

• Add one teaspoon of sugar.加一小茶匙糖。
• I need a teaspoon to stir my tea.我需要一把茶匙搅一搅茶。

4 risky   

adj.有风险的，冒险的

参考例句：

• It may be risky but we will chance it anyhow.这可能有危险，但我们无论如何要冒一冒险。
• He is well aware how risky this investment is.他心里对这项投资的风险十分清楚。

5 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

6 implement   

n.(pl.)工具，器具；vt.实行，实施，执行

参考例句：

• Don't undertake a project unless you can implement it.不要承担一项计划，除非你能完成这项计划。
• The best implement for digging a garden is a spade.在花园里挖土的最好工具是铁锹。

7 commissioner   

n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员

参考例句：

• The commissioner has issued a warrant for her arrest.专员发出了对她的逮捕令。
• He was tapped for police commissioner.他被任命为警务处长。