Deuteronomy 29: 22-23: Then your children and the generations to come and the foreigners that pass by from distant lands shall see the devastation of the land and the diseases the Lord will have sent upon it. They will see that the whole land is alkali and salt, a burned over wasteland, unsown, without crops, without a shred of vegetation---just like Sodom and Gomorrah and Admah and Zeboiim, destroyed by the Lord in his anger. [Living Bible translation]
“re”-a prefix, occurring originally words from Latin, used with the meaning “again” or “again and again or meaning “back” or “backward” to indicate or backward motion.
BIBLICAL COMMENTS
The book of Deuteronomy derives its name from “deuteros” meaning second and “nomos” meaning law. “Deuteronomy” means “second law,” because the book is Moses’ proclamation of GOD’s divine law to the people a second time. The book repeats the recitation of the civil and moral law. It is also a rededication of the people to GOD through the renewal of the covenant between GOD and the people of Israel. It is the repeating of the law and the people’s vows to GOD.
Moses knew that some things were so important they needed to be repeated again and again. Moses also knew that sometimes it is important to just stop and look back---for re-examination, reaffirmation, for reflection and to ensure the people were still following GOD’s law.
SALT GUIDELINES
According to the CDC, The Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the average American consumes too much salt. Nine out of ten Americans consume much more than the recommended limits for salt. According to the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, people over the age of 14 should consume no more than 2300 mg of salt—or the equivalent of 1 teaspoon of salt. Americans younger than 14 should consume even less. See, “CDC: 90% of Americans consume too much salt,” https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/304833.php#1.
SALT’S HARMFUL EFFECTS
- High Blood Pressure
The reason why salt guidelines were revised and lowered was based on scientific evidence of salt’s harmful effects, one of them being, that too much salt can lead to increased risks of high blood pressure, a major risk for heart disease and stroke.
Around 1 out of 3 adult Americans, about 70 million people, suffer from high blood pressure. Only about half of those suffering from high blood pressure have it under control. The raised blood pressure from eating too much salt can damage the arteries leading to the heart, the arteries leading to the brain and in general puts extra strain on your arteries, which supply blood and oxygen to the various organs in the body. - Kidneys
One of the functions of the kidneys is to filter blood, removing unwanted fluids. Extra fluids go out into the bladder to be released as urine. Eating too much salt reduces the ability of the kidneys to remove water effects and the pressure created on the arteries can cause strain, damaging the kidneys and preventing the removal of unwanted and toxic waste products, which can eventually build up in the body. - Dementia
New research has shown that a diet high in salt may be connected to cognitive
decline or dementia. Studies on mice have shown that a diet high in salt leads to dementia in mice because of an overproduction of inflammation. A high salt diet was also found to affect the levels of tau protein in the brain. Studies have shown that a buildup of tau protein is one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease. The research results on mice are a good reminder and warning about the dangers of salt. However, more research is necessary to duplicate the rodent findings in humans. Id.
BE A SAVVY CONSUMER:
In order to be aware that you are ingesting salt, it is important to recognize the list of ingredients on a package that includes a salt or sodium-containing compounds. According to MayoClinic.com if you see a package that mentions any of the following, you are looking at a salt or sodium product:
-Monosodium glutamate (MSG)
-Baking soda
-Baking power
-Disodium phosphate
-Sodium alginate
-Sodium nitrate or nitrite
It is also helpful to know that much of the salt we ingest doesn’t always come from a salt shaker. The biggest contributor of salt for most Americans is salt from process foods and restaurant foods. Some of the foods include grains, meats (e.g. poultry), baked goods, soups, and sandwiches. “Get the Facts: Sodium and Dietary Guidelines,” states:
- One slice of bread can contain anywhere from 80 to 230 mg of sodium, and a slice of frozen pizza can contain between 370 and 730 mg.
- Some breakfast cereals contain 150 to 300 mg of sodium before milk is added.
A cup of soup and a sandwich could result in a consumption of 2,200 mg. of sodium! See: “Get the Facts: Sodium and Dietary Guidelines,” https://www.cdc.gov/salt/pdfs/sodium_dietary_guidelines.pdf
If you don’t monitor your intake, your sodium consumption can build up quickly!
SOME THINGS ARE WORTH REPEATING AGAIN
According to the Dietary Guidelines For Americans, all Americans should probably use less salt. In other words, we all need to monitor the salt we eat. We all need to use less salt. The matter is so important, it bears repeating: Reduce Your Salt Intake.
Make today a day for reexamination. Reexamine your use of salt. Reexamine your food intake. Reexamine your goals for this year. Reexamine your finances. Reexamine what it means to be an American. Reexamine your prayer life. Reexamine your commitment and your relationship to GOD. Reexamine your commitment and need for greater physical and spiritual health. Reexamine your relationships with others. Reexamine your ministries. Reexamine whatever GOD has placed on your heart.
Reexamine, pray and BE BLESSED!
