Draft Australian Dietary Guidelines (PDF, 3MB) - Eat For Health

3.1.4.4 Aboriginal and Torres Strait IslandersLimiting intake of excess energy from any source, including total fat, is particularly important giventhe higher prevalence of obesity in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander groups compared to non-Indigenous Australians [30, 32]. Limiting saturated and trans fat are important given the highprevalence of coronary heart disease, and decreased saturated fat intake may also improve insulinsensitivity.3.1.4.5 Culturally and linguistically diverse groupsThe profile of dietary fat will vary depending on traditional culinary use. Food product labels mayassist people in learning about the amounts and types of fats in unfamiliar or newly introducedmanufactured foods.3.2 Limit intake of foods and drinks containingadded salt3.2.1 Setting the sceneDietary guidelines have recognised the role of sodium in elevating blood pressure since the draftUnited States Surgeon General’s report released in 1979 [541]. Initial advice to the public wasframed to reduce consumption of discretionary salt, such as salt added at the table or duringcooking. More recently it has been recognised that processed foods are the major source ofsodium in Western diets, so advice needs to include processed food. Sodium occurs naturally infood, and a range of sodium-containing additives are also added to manufactured and processedfoods. In these Guidelines, salt always refers to sodium chloride and is never used as a synonym forthe total amount of sodium in foods.Since the previous edition of the Dietary Guidelines in 2003, the evidence for a relationshipbetween reducing sodium intake and reducing blood pressure has strengthened, particularly inthose classified as normotensive. In addition there is now some evidence indicating that reducingsodium may result in a reduction in outcomes such as mortality, stroke and heart disease forthose with hypertension, but not, as yet, for those with normal blood pressure.DRAFT Australian Dietary Guidelines- December 2011 82