Parents of picky toddlers who eschew fruits and veggies in favor of pre-packaged pizza and pasta need to be more vigilant about reading food labels. New research reveals these salt-laden foods can have long-lasting effects, according to both CNN and NPR.
In a study of more than 1,100 pre-packaged meals and snacks aimed at toddlers, lead author Joyce Maalouf found that more than 75 percent contained too much sodium.
But how much is too much?
Children between the ages of 1 and 3 should consume less than 1,500 milligrams of sodium per day, according to the USDA. Thus, Maalouf determined that any product boasting more than 210 milligrams per serving was too much, since, she says, "These meals are not the only meal that kids will eat. They're growing, they're always snacking. So they're eating seven to eight servings and meals per day."
Though Maalouf won't name the super salty offenders, the CDC has identified cold cuts, soups, pizza, pasta, hot dogs, sausage — even chicken — as the biggest culprits.
"Public health officials worry about excessive salt in children's food because it gets them used to eating too much," says NPR's Nancy Shute. "Last year a CDC study found that … overweight or obese children particularly likely to eat more salt."
In addition to the myriad of health problems obesity can cause, researchers have found a link between a child's salt intake and hypertension as an adult, writes CNN Medical Producer Caitlin Hagan.
Since cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in this country, parents should foster good eating habits early on to prevent their children from suffering adverse health effects down the road.
About the Editors: The Shapiro Lewis Appleton & Favaloro personal injury law firm, whose attorneys work out of offices in Virginia (VA) and North Carolina (NC), edits the injury law blogs Virginia Beach Injuryboard, Norfolk Injuryboard, Eastern Shore Injuryboard, and Northeast North Carolina Injuryboard as a pro bono service.
Rick Shapiro has practiced personal injury law for over 30 years in Virginia, North Carolina, and throughout the Southeastern United States. He is a Board-Certified Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy (ABA Accredited) and has litigated injury cases throughout the eastern United States, including wrongful death, trucking, faulty products, railroad, and medical negligence claims. During his three-decade career, Shapiro has won client appeals before the VA Supreme Court, VA Court of Appeals, NC Supreme Court, SC Supreme Court, WV Supreme Court, TN Supreme Court, and three times before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, underscoring Shapiro’s trial achievements. In addition, he and his law firm have won settlements/verdicts in excess of $100 million. His success in and out of the courtroom is a big reason why he was named 2019 “Lawyer of the Year” in railroad law in U.S. News & World Report's Best Lawyers publication (Norfolk, VA area), and he has been named a “Best Lawyer” and “Super Lawyer” by those peer-reviewed organizations for multiple years. Rick was also named a “Leader in the Law, Class of 2022” by Virginia Lawyers Weekly (total of 33 statewide honorees consisting of lawyers and judges across Virginia). And in September 2023, Rick was selected as a recipient of the National Board of Trial Advocacy (NBTA) 2023 President’s Award. Although many nominations were submitted from across the country, Rick was just one of eight attorneys chosen by the prestigious National Board which certifies civil trial attorneys across the U.S. Rick was also recently named to Virginia Lawyers Weekly 2024 Virginia’s Go To Lawyers Medical Malpractice. The attorneys awarded this honor are nominated by their colleagues and chosen by a panel from the publication.
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