A study by the Ministry of Health (MoW) on salt and iodine consumption in the Latvian adult population has been completed. The results of the study show that the majority or more than 70% of the Latvian population consumes too much salt in their diet, while 71% do not take enough iodine.
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Although the knowledge of the study participants about the health effects of salt can be assessed as good, the salt consumption among the Latvian population is more than twice the recommended 5 grams of salt per day recommended by the World Health Organization. VM data show that in Latvia women consume an average of 8.9 grams of salt per day, but men – 12.8 grams of salt per day. Also, 71% of study participants do not pay attention to the amount of salt on the product label.
The main sources of salt in the menu of the Latvian population are various spices, additives and sauces, as well as cereal products (bread) and meat products (sausages, sausages and smoked meat products). More than half of the study participants always use salt in cooking, and ready-made spice mixtures that already contain salt are often used. Nearly 70% of study participants who believe that they are getting enough salt are actually eating too much salt. However, those study participants who noted that they were consuming too little salt actually absorbed the optimal amount of salt.
Data obtained from diet diaries show that the main sources of iodine in the diet of the Latvian population are dairy products, water, fish and seafood. Almost a third or 31% of the study participants admit that they know about the need for iodine in the human body, but do not know its significance, while 70% of the respondents would like to receive educational information about iodine.
The results of the study allow concluding that the population of Latvia consumes more fat and less carbohydrates than the recommendations of a healthy diet, as well as insufficient amounts of fruits, vegetables, cereals and dairy products, which explains the insufficient supply of nutrients and vitamins.
The results of the study also show that 48% of the population does not take in enough potassium, which is found mainly in vegetables and fruits. Insufficient potassium intake, in addition to excessive amounts of salt in the diet, poses a risk to cardiovascular health.
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