Excessive Sodium & Salt in Children’s Diet May Lead to High Blood Pressure & More

Feeding picky eaters is a mother's worst nightmare. In reality, giving in to their whims by serving their favorite mac and cheese or chicken nuggets may be the only way to make them eat.

However, experts believe that the amount of salt, calories and fats incorporated in these type of foods are only preparing children to a lifetime battle with adverse medical conditions, specifically high blood pressure and obesity.

The adequate intake of salt for children depends on their age. The Institute of Medicine tells San Francisco Gate that 100 grams per day is okay for toddlers, 120 grams for school-aged children, and for young adults, the intake increases to 150 grams.

These intakes are based on the needs of 97 percent to 98 percent of the population. To ensure that children are not consuming too much salt, the same institute has also published the "tolerable upper limits for sodium" or the maximum amount of salt that can be tolerated by the younger population that will not yield any adverse medical effects.

For toddlers, they can consume up to 150 grams per day, while school-aged kids and young adults can consume up to 220 grams and 230 grams, respectively.

Unfortunately, it seems that many kids nowadays are getting more salt by eating packaged and processed foods. Fox News reports that according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), almost 90 percent of children consume more than 100 grams of their recommended daily sodium intake.

CDC has also found out using the same study that one out of six children, between ages eight and 17, are already showing early signs of high blood pressure.

Additionally, high blood pressure is not the only problem connected with high salt intake as it can also bring about stroke and kidney failure later on.

Kids are also at risk for developing elevated cholesterol and type 2 diabetes as high sodium foods are usually high in calories and fats. 

Eurasia Review News & Analysis has published a report that salt can also lead to obesity, osteoporosis and heart diseases like left ventricular hypertrophy and heart failure. 

Most countries like the U.S. and Latin America have tried to address the issue by asking food producers to place warning labels on products high in sodium or imposing sodium laws, but have received significant backlash from large food companies. 

Experts are now relying on parents to start the change. By reading food labels, offering more fruits and vegetables, being a role model, and understanding that "low" or "reduced sodium" only meant less 25 percent than the original, the future medical conditions of children will be brighter and healthier than what is observed now.