Last month we reported about a study that showed eating even a little less salt could greatly help the heart. The study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The scientists used a computer model to predict how just three grams less salt a day would affect heart disease in the United States. 

The scientists said the results would be thirteen percent fewer heart attacks, eight percent fewer strokes , four percent fewer deaths and eleven percent fewer new cases of heart disease And two hundred forty billion dollars in health care savings. Researchers said it could prevent one hundred thousand heart attacks and ninety-two thousand deaths every year. 

They and public health professionals in the United States are interested in a national campaign to persuade people to eat less salt. Such campaigns are already in place in Britain, Japan and Finland. 

Michael Alderman is among the critics. He is a high blood pressure expert and professor at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. Doctor Alderman says that eating less salt results in lower blood pressure. But he says studies have not clearly shown that lowering salt means fewer heart attacks or strokes. And he says salt has other biological effects. He says calling for reduction in the national diet could have good effects, but it could also have harmful results. He says there is not enough evidence _ . 

Another critic is David McCarron, a nutrition and kidney disease expert at the University of California, Davis. He and his team looked at large studies of diets in thirty-three countries. They found that most people around the world eat about the same amount of salt. Most of them eat more salt than American health officials advise. Doctor McCarron says the worldwide similarity suggests that a person's brain might decide how much salt to eat. 

Both Doctor McCarron and Doctor Alderman have connections to the Salt Institute, a trade group for the salt industry. Doctor Alderman is a member of an advisory committee. But he says he receives no money from the group. Doctor McCarron is paid for offering advice to the Salt Institute.
What is the name of the salt trade's group?
Who is on the advisory committee?
Who gets money for the advice he gives them?
Where was a study printed?
What food was it about?
Should we eat less according to the study?
How much less?
What do they claim this will help with?
Does everyone agree?
Who is one of the critics?
What does he specialize in?
What does he claim is the benefit of less salt?
What does he think may not be a benefit?
What does David specialize in?
Where does he work?
Did he do his own research?
Did he review other people's research?
How many countries had their diets studied?
How did their salt intake compare?
Was it more than Americans are advised to eat?
Salt Institute
Salt Institute, a trade group
Doctor Alderman
Doctor Alderman is a member of an advisory committee
Doctor McCarron i
 Doctor McCarron is paid for offering advice to the Salt Institute.
The sthe New England Journal of Medicine
The study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine
salt
study that showed eating even a little less salt 
yes
s would be thirteen percent fewer heart attacks, eight percent fewer strokes , four percent fewer deaths and eleven percent fewer new cases of heart disease 
a little less
even a little less salt
less heart attacks, strokes, deaths and heart disease
The scientists said the results would be thirteen percent fewer heart attacks, eight percent fewer strokes , four percent fewer deaths and eleven percent fewer new cases of heart disease
no
Michael Alderman is among the critics. He is a high blood pressure expert and professor at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. Doctor Alderman says that eating less salt results in lower blood pressure. But he says studies have not clearly shown that lowering salt means fewer heart attacks or strokes.
Michael Alderman
Michael Alderman is among the critics
high blood pressure
Michael Alderman is among the critics. He is a high blood pressure expert 
lower blood pressure
 Doctor Alderman says that eating less salt results in lower blood pressure
fewer heart attacks or strokes.
But he says studies have not clearly shown that lowering salt means fewer heart attacks or strokes.
nutrition and kidney disease
Another critic is David McCarron, a nutrition and kidney disease
University of California, Davis
David McCarron, a nutrition and kidney disease expert at the University of California, Davis
no
 He and his team looked at large studies of diets in thirty-three countries.
yes
He and his team looked at large studies of diets in thirty-three countries.
thirty-three
He and his team looked at large studies of diets in thirty-three countries
about the same
hey found that most people around the world eat about the same amount of salt.
yes
 Most of them eat more salt than American health officials advise.