New Delhi: The Indian Council of Medical Research National Institute of Epidemiology (ICMR-NIE) has launched a new initiative to reduce India’s salt consumption, after research, it has been found that it is revealed that the average daily intake in both urban and rural areas is more than the World Health Organization (WHO), which recommends 5 grams of border per day.The average salt intake in urban India is 9.2 grams per day, while the average of rural India is 5.6 grams, both above the global health standard. The chief investigator of the study at ICMR-Near Dr. “Additional sodium intake increases the risk of high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease and kidney disorders, causing salt decrease to a national priority,” Sharan Murali said.To deal with the issue, ICMR-NIE has rolled out a three-year intervention project in Punjab and Telangana. The objective of this initiative is to assess whether the lack of salt distributed by health workers in health and welfare centers can help reduce blood pressure and sodium consumption in individuals with high blood pressure.Currently in its first year, the project is focusing on basic assessment. Dr. Murali emphasized the importance of co-creating counseling materials with community health workers: “It is not just about giving health education-it is about hearing, understanding and construction together.”The study also found that low-modal salt options-where sodium chloride is partially replaced with potassium or magnesium-7/4 mmHG may reduce low blood pressure. However, a market survey in Chennai showed that low-modal salt was available in only 28% retail shops and was priced more than double the cost of regular salt, indicating both awareness and access gaps.To manufacture motion, ICMR-Nie has launched the #Pinchforachage campaign on Twitter and LinkedIn, which aims to increase public awareness using infographics and simple messages.“It’s not just about reducing salt,” Dr. Murali said. “This is about restoring our diet, our system and balance in our hearts – a pinch at a time.”
