FDA takes action

Sunday February 05 , 2012

Salt is Essential to Life
Sodium and Potassium
Salt Is In Our Foods
Naturally Balanced
33% less Sodium

Salt is essential to life and good health.

Salt is both important to hydration in our bodies and a critical component to cellular electrolyte balance.

Electrolytes are minerals that dissolve in water and carry electrical charges. Salt is an electrolyte that our body needs. Pure water does not conduct electricity, but water containing salt does. Since electrolytes have an electrical charge they can move through you cell membranes and thus carry other nutrients with them into the cells. They also carry messages along your nerves and help control things like your heartbeat.

Potassium and sodium are very closely linked.

To maintaining the electrolyte balance in our cells, potassium and sodium constantly move back and forth through the cell membrane.

To keep your body healthy, your cells need to have a lot of potassium in the fluid inside and a lot of sodium in the fluid outside, but our cells need the correct balance. The ratio that your body maintains is about three parts potassium and one part sodium. Thus, the problem of too much sodium (salt) cannot be overstated.

Salt is most certainly in our diet.

Between 65 and 85% of our salt intake is already in the processed food we eat and is not in what we add to our food at the table or in cooking.

Most Americans consume sodium in the “hygienic safety range:” 1,150 – 5,750 mg/day. The average sodium consumption in the U.S. is 3375mg per day; men more, women less. The National Academy of Sciences recommends that Americans consume a minimum of 500 mg/day of sodium to maintain good health. The USDA estimates that you need about 1500 mg of sodium. Unless closely supervised by a medical practitioner, low-salt diets can create health problems for vulnerable sectors of the population.

Naturally balanced with trace minerals and elements.

Lower sodium content is complimented with other essential trace minerals like magnesium.

Processed refined white table salt contains either no magnesium salts or less than 0.03%, compared to the 0.55% average content in naturally balanced Kona Sea Salt™. Magnesium salts, while quite abundant in young adults, become depleted in older persons.

What you won't find in Kona Sea Salt™ are anti-clumping ingredients or whitening agents. Our Hawaii deep sea salt is naturally pure white as a result of the solar evaporation process achieved in protected salt houses. Kona Sea Salt™ is as pure as the water from which it came.

Why choose Kona Sea Salt™?

Naturally balanced Kona Sea Salt™ is 33% lower in sodium than refined table salt.

Not only lower in sodium, Kona Sea Salt™ boasts a rich allotment of trace minerals, as well. Unlike refined table salt, naturally unrefined Kona Sea Salt™ preserves the natural balance of elements and minerals found in our unique deep sea water providing the body with other electrolytes like magnesium, calcium, zinc, and many others in very small amounts. More

FDA takes action

Health Science

The Institute of Medicine has released its report on recommended strategies for reducing sodium intake to levels recommended in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, a task set forth by Congress in 2008. The non-profit organization has concluded that new government standards for the acceptable level of sodium are required in order to reduce sodium content in food.

The Food and Drug Administration said in a statement that in the coming weeks, it will more thoroughly review the recommendations of the IOM report and build plans for how the FDA can continue to work with other federal agencies, public health and consumer groups, and the food industry to support the reduction of sodium levels in the food supply. The Department of Health and Human Services will be establishing an interagency working group on sodium at the department that will review options and next steps.

The FDA also said that a Washington Post report incorrectly left the impression that the FDA has already begun the process of regulating the amount of sodium in foods.

The agency did say the effort to reduce sodium intake will require a concerted commitment, from the foodservice industry as well as consumers.

Success in reducing sodium intake will require coordinated national action, with participation of all. We are encouraged by the fact that some food manufacturers have already begun or announced their commitment to reduce sodium levels in their products.

As a consumer, you can start lowering your sodium intake today by purchasing foods low in sodium, asking your grocer to carry more low-sodium products, and asking for low-sodium options at restaurants.

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Despite our tough economy, demand for Kona Sea Salt is rising, and we feel there has never been a better time to add Kona Sea Salt to your product mix.