每日摄入食盐的安全量应该是英国国民健康体系建议的两倍

For decades experts have peppered people with warnings about the amount of salt being consumed. Scientists agree too much of it can raise blood pressure, which is linked to a higher risk of heart disease and stroke. The NHS and World Health Organisation say adults should not have over a teaspoon of salt per day - but a controversial study has suggested up to two-and-a-half teaspoons is not a danger.

几十年来，专家一直向人们发出警告，并规定摄入食盐的安全量。科学家认为摄入盐分过多会使血压升高，而高血压与更高的心脏病及中风风险相关。英国国民健康体系和世界卫生组织表示，成年人每天摄入的盐分不应超过一茶匙--但一项颇具争议的研究表明：两茶匙半的盐分并不会带来危险。

The researchers also concluded eating a lot of fruit and veg may eliminate the risk of heart attacks and strokes from more than two-and-a-half teaspoons. Study author Professor Andrew Mente, of McMaster University in Canada, said: "Only in the communities with the most sodium intake... did we find a direct link between [it] and major cardiovascular events like heart attack and stroke." Sodium is the active ingredient in salt.

研究员还得出这样的结论：每天多吃水果和蔬菜或能消除每天摄入两茶匙半以上盐分所带来的心脏病和中风的风险。来自加拿大麦克马斯特大学的研究作者安德鲁·门德教授说道："只有在钠摄入量最高的小区，我们才发现钠与心脏病发作及中风等主要心血管疾病存在直接关联。"钠是食盐中的活性成分。

They found cardiovascular problems were lower in places with a high level of potassium consumption. Foods high in potassium include fruit and veg. One problem is many processed foods are high in salt but rarely eaten with a lot of veg. The findings, published in The Lancet, involved a study of 94,000 people in 18 countries including China. Salt intake was measured with urine tests.

他们发现，在钾摄入量较高的小区，心血管疾病的案例较低。钾含量高的食物包括水果和蔬菜。但存在一个问题：很多加工过的食物含盐量高，但却很少和蔬菜搭配食用。研究结果发表在《柳叶刀》期刊上，涉及了来自18个国家（包括中国）的94000位受试者。盐摄入量通过检测尿液获得。

Tam Fry, of the National Obesity Forum, said Prof Mente has been criticised in the past for his advice, so "you would be best to stay within the UK's official guidelines for the time being". Exeter University health expert Prof Rod Taylor said: "The findings were observational so cannot claim cause and effect.

国家肥胖论坛的Tam Fry表示，过去，人们总批评Mente教授的建议，所以"目前最好还是遵守英国官方指南给出的食盐摄入量"。埃克塞特大学的健康专家罗德·泰勒教授说道："研究结果是观察性的，并不能说明因果关系。"

"[And] they were limited to a mostly Asian population, so we don't know how widely applicable they might be." This large observational study has confirmed what is already known about high salt intake - it results in higher blood pressure and an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. It also confirms very low salt intake can affect health badly, which is the case for most nutrients.

"而且受试者大多来自亚洲，所以研究结果的适用范围尚不清楚。"这一大型观察性研究已证实：盐分摄入过多会导致血压升高、心血管疾病风险增加。而且还证明，盐分摄入量低会极大的影响健康，即摄入过多营养素。