09/08/2021 SALT
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]
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 need 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
The average American consumes about 3,400 mg of sodium of salt per day, which is much too high, especially since the Dietary Guidelines For Americans recommends that Americans should limit sodium intake to less than 2,300 mg per day, with less intake for those below age 14. But, according to the Dietary Guidelines:
Average intakes of sodium are high across the U.S. population…. with a range of about 2,000 to 5,000 mg per day. Only a small proportion of total sodium intake is from sodium inherent in foods or from salt added in-home cooking or at the table. Most sodium consumed in the United States comes from salt added during commercial food processing and preparation, including foods prepared at restaurants.
See, Dietary Guideline for Americans 2020-2025, https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/sites/default/files/2020-12/Dietary_Guidelines_for_Americans_2020-2025.pdf
According to the Guidelines, approximately 97% of males exceed the recommended sodium limit. Males have an average intake of 4,172 mg daily. Approximately 82% of females exceed the recommended sodium limits. Females having average intakes of 3,062 mg per day. This means that only 3% of males and only 18% of females are meeting the recommended daily Guideline limits for sodium! See, Guidelines, p. 99. The numbers are concerning because according to the Guidelines approximately 45% of adults ages 18 and older are living with hypertension.
During adulthood, the prevalence of hypertension increases from about 22 percent of adults ages 18 through 39 to about 55 percent of adults ages 40 through 59. Changing this trend is important because hypertension is a preventable risk factor for cardiovascular disease and stroke.
Emphasize added. See, Dietary Guideline for Americans 2020-2025, p.102. Id.