PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

Sandwiches are a major contributor to dietary sodium intake

Sandwiches account for one-fifth of total sodium intake, with nearly half of American Adults consuming them on any given day, according to new study published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

2014-10-07
(Press-News.org) Philadelphia, PA, October 6, 2014 – Sandwiches make up a substantial part of the American diet and are a significant contributor to daily energy and sodium intake. By closely analyzing data from the federal nationwide dietary intake survey known as "What We Eat in America NHANES 2009-2010," a team of Department of Agriculture (USDA) researchers found that on any given day 49 percent of U.S. adults eat at least one sandwich, and sandwiches account for one-fifth of total daily sodium intake. The study was conducted by USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) investigators at the Food Surveys Research Group. ARS is USDA's chief intramural scientific research agency and is partnering with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in conducting the survey. The study findings were published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Sandwiches are a mainstay of American cuisine, but they pose a challenge to survey researchers since they can be comprised of a wide variety of different ingredients. In What We Eat in America NHANES 2009-2010, participants reported everything they ate and drank the previous day. Each food and beverage reported was then assigned one or more food codes so that its nutrient content could be determined.

For most sandwiches, participants reported the various components of their sandwich (such as bread and fillings) individually. Those components were then coded separately with multiple food codes that were linked to indicate they were eaten together as a sandwich. For instance, a ham and cheese sandwich may have been coded as specific amounts of bread, ham, cheese, lettuce, and mayonnaise. On the other hand, some sandwiches, especially fast-food sandwiches, were coded using a single food code (for instance, "turkey submarine sandwich, with cheese, lettuce, tomato, and spread" or "bacon cheeseburger, ¼ lb meat, with tomato and/or catsup, on bun").

Because previous studies had defined sandwiches as only those that were represented by a single food code, those analyses found that sandwiches only contributed about 4 percent of daily sodium intake. In this innovative study, investigators broadened the sandwich definition by including sandwiches that were coded as multiple ingredients as well as those coded using a single food code. By including sandwiches coded both ways, researchers discovered that sandwiches actually account for one-fifth of total sodium intake and that on any given day nearly half of the adults in America aged 20 years and older eat a sandwich.

"In 2009-2010, only about 20 percent of all sandwiches were represented by a single food code," explains study co-author ARS nutritionist Rhonda Sebastian, MA. "For that reason, previously published estimates of sandwich contributions to sodium intake that were based on only single-code sandwiches are considerably underestimated."

The 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend a maximum intake of 2,300 milligrams of sodium per day. For certain groups – adults over 50, African-Americans, and those with certain medical conditions, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or chronic kidney disease – the recommended amount is reduced to 1,500 milligrams per day. This study revealed that, for adults, sandwiches alone contribute 30 percent of the less restrictive guideline and 46 percent of the stricter guideline.

Researchers also found that people who ate sandwiches had significantly higher energy intakes than those who did not. Those who consumed a sandwich on the survey day took in, on average, around 300 kilocalories more than those who did not report eating a sandwich. Sandwich reporters also had higher total sodium intakes, averaging around 600 milligrams per day higher than sandwich non-reporters.

"The unanticipated finding that sandwich consumption is associated with higher overall intake of energy underscores the importance of making healthful choices of sandwich ingredients," says co-author ARS nutritionist Cecilia Wilkinson Enns, MS, RD. "Many sandwiches, such as burgers and franks, and common sandwich components, such as yeast breads, cheese, and cured meats, are among the top contributors not only to sodium but also to energy in the diets of adult Americans."

The study found that the higher levels of sodium intake among sandwich reporters were linked to the higher levels of daily energy consumption. "Regardless of sandwich reporting status, sodium density was approximately 1,700-1,800 mg per 1,000 kilocalories, suggesting that the higher sodium levels of sandwich reports are explained by their higher energy intake," states Sebastian.

As Americans search for ways to improve their diets, taking another look at sandwiches may help people make better choices and avoid consuming both too many calories and too much sodium. "Though much national attention is appropriately focused on reducing sodium in the food supply, consumer choices still play a vital role," concludes Wilkinson Enns. "Due to sandwiches' frequent consumption and considerable contributions to sodium intake, substituting lower-sodium for higher-sodium ingredients in sandwiches could significantly impact sodium intakes."

INFORMATION:



ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Tropical Storm Simon says, 'US Southwest is an 'arm's reach'

Tropical Storm Simon says, US Southwest is an arms reach
2014-10-07
Infrared satellite imagery from NASA's Aqua satellite shows what looks like an arm from Tropical Storm Simon's northern quadrant, reaching over Baja California to mainland Mexico. Forecasters at the National Hurricane Center noted that Simon is just an "arm's reach" to the southern U.S. and expect rainfall and rough surf to affect that area of the country. On Oct. 6 at 0347 UTC (Oct. 5 at 11:47 p.m. EDT) the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder called AIRS that flies aboard NASA's Aqua satellite captured cloud top temperature data on Simon. On band of thunderstorms wrapping into ...

NASA spots Typhoon Phanfone affecting Japan

NASA spots Typhoon Phanfone affecting Japan
2014-10-07
Over the weekend of Oct. 5 and 6, Typhoon Phanfone's center made landfall just south of Tokyo and passed over the city before exiting back into the Northwestern Pacific Ocean. NASA's Aqua satellite captured a picture of the typhoon as Tokyo braced for its large eye. On its way to mainland Japan, Phanfone struck Kadena Air Base on the island of Okinawa. According to the website for U.S. Air Force Kadena Air Base, "One Airman is confirmed deceased and two more are missing after they were washed out to sea from the northwest coast of Okinawa at about 3:45 p.m. Oct. 5. An ...

NASA sees Typhoon Vongfong leaving the Mariana Islands

NASA sees Typhoon Vongfong leaving the Mariana Islands
2014-10-07
Typhoon Vongfong has exited the Mariana Islands. Now, as the island of Iwo To begins recovery from Typhoon Phanfone, NASA's Aqua satellite is eyeing Typhoon Vongfong over 1,000 miles south of Iwo To. Although Vongfong is expected to turn north toward Iwo To, it is forecast to stay west of the island on its track. On Oct. 6 at 0347 UTC (Oct. 5 at 11:47 p.m. EDT) the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder called AIRS that flies aboard NASA's Aqua satellite captured cloud top temperature data on Vongfong. AIRS data showed strongest thunderstorms within the typhoon circled the center ...

A warm dark matter search using XMASS: Editors' suggestion of Physical Review Letters

2014-10-07
The XMASS collaboration, led by Yoichiro Suzuki at the Kavli IPMU, has reported its latest results on the search for warm dark matter. Their results rule out the possibility that super-weakly interacting massive bosonic particles (bosonic super-WIMPs) constitute all dark matter in the universe. This result was published in the September 19th issue of the Physical Review Letters as an Editors' Suggestion. The universe is considered to be filled with dark matter, which cannot be observed by ordinary light. Although much evidence supports the existence of dark matter, it ...

Program to reduce hospital readmissions doesn't have impact

2014-10-07
Researchers at UC San Francisco have found that a nurse-led intervention program designed to reduce readmissions among ethnically and linguistically diverse older patients did not improve 30-day hospital readmission rates. Their findings suggest hospitals evaluate such programs before implementing or continuing. Their study is in the Oct. 7 issue of Annals of Internal Medicine. "The lack of effect in this population, which was well connected to primary care, suggests reducing readmissions is challenging," said co-lead author L. Elizabeth Goldman, MD, MCR, associate ...

Asthma risk varies with ethnic ancestry among Latinos, UCSF team finds

2014-10-07
Native American ancestry is associated with a lower asthma risk, but African ancestry is associated with a higher risk, according to the largest-ever study of how genetic variation influences asthma risk in Latinos, in whom both African and Native American ancestry is common. The study, led by UC San Francisco researchers, was published online October 6, 2014 in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. Although differences in the environments in which people live often are suspected when asthma risks among populations differ, the new findings illustrate the importance ...

Small molecule 'jams the switch' to prevent inflammatory cell death

Small molecule jams the switch to prevent inflammatory cell death
2014-10-07
Walter and Eliza Hall Institute scientists have discovered a small molecule that blocks a form of cell death that triggers inflammation, opening the door for potential new treatments for inflammatory disease such as rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease and psoriasis. The researchers made the discovery while investigating how a protein called MLKL kills cells in a process known as necroptosis. Their findings were published today in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Necroptosis is a recently discovered cell death pathway linked to immune disorders. ...

Making the world's most dreaded undergrad course fun (video)

Making the worlds most dreaded undergrad course fun (video)
2014-10-07
WASHINGTON, Oct. 7, 2014 — Organic chemistry: It's among the most feared courses undergraduate science students take. Whether you call it "orgo" or "o-chem," it has reduced many hopeful scholars to tears. One professor thinks he has a solution. William Dichtel, Ph.D., of Cornell University shares his thoughts on making organic chemistry classes more interesting and relevant to students in the newest episode of Prized Science from the American Chemical Society. Watch the interview at http://youtu.be/A6j1qAOOeHs. Subscribe to the ACS channel at http://bit.ly/ACSYoutube ...

Gastrostomy tube not advised for advanced dementia or other near end-of-life patients

2014-10-07
Based on current scientific literature, gastrostomy tube (G-tube) placement or other long-term enteral access devices should be withheld or withdrawn in patients with advanced dementia or other near end-of-life conditions, according to a special report published today in the OnlineFirst version of Nutrition in Clinical Practice (NCP), the official journal of the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (A.S.P.E.N.). Written by the International Clinical Ethics Section of A.S.P.E.N., the report suggests that advanced dementia be seen by health care providers ...

Acknowledging appearance reduces bias when beauties apply for masculine jobs, says CU-led study

2014-10-07
Past research shows physical beauty can be detrimental to women applying for masculine jobs. But belles can put the brakes on discrimination by acknowledging their looks during an interview, according to a new study led by the University of Colorado Boulder. The paper, published in Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, is the first to provide a method for curtailing such prejudice against attractive women. In the study, when an attractive woman applied for a job typically filled by men -- a construction job -- and said, "I know I don't look like your ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

New lignin-based hydrogel breakthrough for wound healing and controlled drug release

Enhancing compatibility and biodegradability of PLA/biomass composites via forest residue torrefaction

Time alone heightens ‘threat alert’ in teenagers – even when connecting on social media

Study challenges long-held theories on how migratory birds navigate 

Unlocking the secrets of ketosis

AI analysis of PET/CT images can predict side effects of immunotherapy in lung cancer

Making an impact. Research studies a new side of helmet safety: faceguard failures

Specific long term condition combinations have major role in NHS ‘winter pressures’

Men often struggle with transition to fatherhood amid lack of targeted information and support

More green space linked to fewer preventable deaths in most deprived areas of UK

Immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab improves outcomes for patients with soft tissue sarcoma

A formula for life? New model calculates chances of intelligent beings in our Universe and beyond

Could a genetic flaw be the key to stopping people craving sugary treats?

Experts urge complex systems approach to assess A.I. risks

Fossil fuel CO2 emissions increase again in 2024

Winners of Applied Microbiology International Horizon Awards 2024 announced

A toolkit for unraveling the links between intimate partner violence, trauma and substance misuse

Can everyday physical activity improve cognitive health in middle age?

Updated guidance reaffirms CPR with breaths essential for cardiac arrest following drowning

Study reveals medical boards rarely discipline physician misinformation

New treatment helps children with rare spinal condition regain ability to walk

'Grow Your Own' teacher prep pipeline at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette funded by US Department of Education

Lab-grown human immune system uncovers weakened response in cancer patients

More than 5 million Americans would be eligible for psychedelic therapy, study finds

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia researchers find community health workers play critical role in coordinating asthma care across home, school and community

Comprehensive Genomic Profiling leads to better patient outcomes, new joint study says  

Animated movie characters with strabismus are more likely to be villains, study finds

How retailers change ordering strategy when a supplier starts its own direct channel

Young coral use metabolic tricks to resist bleaching

Protecting tax whistleblowers pays off

[Press-News.org] Sandwiches are a major contributor to dietary sodium intake
Sandwiches account for one-fifth of total sodium intake, with nearly half of American Adults consuming them on any given day, according to new study published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics