A surprising amount of salt sneaks into lots of different foods.
One way for consumers to educate themselves is to regularly read nutrition labels at the supermarket, according to Margaret Cammarieri, regional vice president of Multicultural Initiatives and Health Equity at the American Heart Association.
“If salt is the first thing” on a product label, she said, “then that is too high in salt.”
As part of the AHA’s campaign dubbed Check. Change. Control. Newark Healthy Living Initiative, Cammarieri recently gave an educational healthy eating presentation to residents of New Community Commons Senior. Afterwards, the seniors and disabled adults who attended enjoyed a healthy lunch compliments of Alston’s Catering Service.
Throughout her presentation, Cammarieri reminded residents of the campaign’s motto—Check. Change. Control.—to reinforce the importance of checking one’s blood pressure at least two times a month.
Checking your blood pressure, and seeing whether it may be too high, can prompt actions to change your behavior and, ultimately, control your health. The initiative is locally sponsored by the Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey and the presentation was organized by AHA in coordination with New Community’s Department of Health and Social Services.
“You’re going to be more aware,” Cammarieri said. “Every little bit that we do helps.”
