Dec, 27, 2013 – Holiday Pounds

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ANCHOR LEAD: TOO MUCH SALT MAY BE THE CULPRIT WHEN IT COMES TO HOLIDAY WEIGHT GAIN, ELIZABETH TRACEY REPORTS

Many people report weight gains in the five to ten pound range over the holiday period, no doubt contributing to New Year’s resolutions to join a gym. Lawrence Appel, a salt and diet expert at Johns Hopkins, says his research points to salt, not calories, as the culprit.

APPEL: Based on observations that we’ve done with our research I think it’s reasonable to speculate that a good part of the weight that people attribute to excess calories is really excess sodium intake because when people consume excess sodium that leads to water retention, greater weight, that certainly contributes to weight gain over the holidays. I’m not sure if it’s all of it but it’s probably a good part of the weight gain. The sodium that people are consuming is not obvious, it’s not from the salt shakers. :26

Appel says foods you’d never suspect, such as breads and other baked goods, often have a lot of salt, along with the usual suspects such as cheeses. He advises going for the fresh fruits and veggies to keep weight gain minimal. At Johns Hopkins, I’m Elizabeth Tracey.