Get involved in National Salt Awareness Week 2008 - Salt and Children
National Salt Awareness Week 2008 will run from Monday 28 January to Sunday 3 February.
Salt Awareness Week 2008 will focus on Salt and Children. Research has shown that reducing children's salt intake by half results in immediate falls in blood pressure, which in turn could lead to major reductions in the risk of developing stroke, heart attacks and heart failure later in life. It is well established that the higher the blood pressure in childhood, the higher the blood pressure in adulthood. Therefore, anything that lowers blood pressure in children is likely to reduce the number of people developing high blood pressure later in life. A high salt intake has also been linked to adverse effects such as: failure to reach peak bone mass predisposing to osteoporosis; aggravation of asthma; predisposition to stomach cancer; and it could also influence the development of obesity.
During the Week we will:
- publicise that children should eat even less salt than adults;
- show the large amounts of salt children could be consuming just through eating everyday foods (4.9g for 4-6 year olds which is 1.9g more than their recommended maximum upper limit of 3g);
- highlight where the salt comes from in children's diets;
- provide practical information to parents and carers on how to reduce the level of salt their children eat.
These messages are not currently being heavily promoted by the Food Standards Agency's (FSA) Salt Campaign and it is an important fact to remind parents. In fact, no other national campaign is currently dealing with this issue.
We will also provide resources to Health Care Professionals around the country so that you can hold their own supporting events in the local community.
If you would like to get involved please email Joanna Butten, Project Co-ordinator on or call 020 82666498. Please click here for a resources list and send your request to cash@sgul.ac.uk.
Feedback
We would be pleased to hear of any event or displays taking place, so please let us know what you will be doing to participate by filling out a participation form. Click here for a copy of the participation form. We will be highlighting events taking part on or around the week and may contact you regarding publicity.