Study: 1 in 10 U.S. deaths from too much salt

The health food push continues, with a recent study finding that too much salt in one’s diet could prove fatal.

According to the same Harvard research team that linked sugary drinks to 25,000 deaths a year, one in 10 Americans dies from too much salt. Specifically, excessive salt consumption led to nearly 2.3 million cardiovascular deaths worldwide in 2010.

Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, an epidemiologist at the Harvard School of Public Health and author of both studies, told ABC News that the burden of sodium is much higher because the ingredient is in everything.

He added that individuals have to be extremely motivated to monitor their sodium intake. Consumers have to educate themselves, have access to a range of foods and do all of their own cooking.

However, The Salt Institute disagrees with the findings, saying that the researchers created an unrealistic threshold. Organization officials said that the study did not measure any actual cardiovascular deaths related to salt intake, since, by the authors’ own admission, no country anywhere in the world consumes the low levels of salt they recommend.

ABC News’ chief health and medical editor Dr. Richard Besser said that one way for consumers to have more control is to shop the perimeter of the supermarket.

“That’s where you will find fresh fruits and vegetables, meats and dairy products,” he said. “When you cook with these ingredients you have control over how much salt you take in.”

While consumers might be wanting more in-depth nutritional labels on foods, it is important for companies to try and provide them with the best ones possible. Using a Primera LX900 color label printer can help food and drink manufacturers design custom labels that are also informative.

Labels for natural foods can also be very beneficial, as shoppers are becoming more concerned with maintaining a healthy diet.