RIGA (Latvia) – It wasn’t as smooth as they hoped, but Türkiye got the job done, defeating Sweden 85-79 as the Round of 16 tipped off in Arena Riga on Saturday.
They now have some time to regroup, analyze and come back even stronger before the Quarter-Finals on Tuesday.
Turning Point
Sweden opened up the game making nine of their first 10 field goal attempts, stunning Türkiye and staying in control for the entire half.
However, coach Ergin Ataman found the right lineup early in the second half. Türkiye went from a 44-37 deficit to a 51-44 advantage with a 14-0 run, opening an 11-point lead late in the third quarter.
Sweden did not back away. Instead, their eternal one-two punch of Ludvig Hakanson and Simon Birgander created a comeback to tie the game twice in the final period, setting the stage for a dramatic finish in the final three minutes.
Alperen Sengun decided that’s where he draws the line. He went crazy in a quick 6-0 run, culminating with a block and a dunk to make it 82-76 as the final minute started.
Back-scratcher dunk by Alperen Sengun
Back-scratcher dunk by Alperen Sengun
Back-scratcher dunk by Alperen Sengun
Back-scratcher dunk by Alperen Sengun
TCL Player of the Game
Cedi Osman was extremely hot to start the game, fueling Türkiye’s offense when it felt like nothing was going right early in the game.
Ercan Osmani also had his moments, on both ends of the floor. However, it was always going to be Alperen Sengun in this department, as the big guy took over to seal the deal in the fourth quarter.
The NBA All-Star finished with 24 points, 16 rebounds and 6 assists, becoming the first Turkish player with three double-doubles in a single FIBA EuroBasket event since Omer Asik had them in 2011.
Stats Don’t Lie
Türkiye dominated the rebounding department and picked up 18 offensive rebounds, more than enough to create a 16-6 advantage in second chance points.
Bottom Line
This is the first time Türkiye have made it back to the Quarter-Finals since 2009, and also the first time they won six straight FIBA EuroBasket games since 1957, when they had seven in a row.
They get a chance to tie that mark in the Quarter-Finals, where they will play either Poland or Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Sweden played their hearts out, with five men in double figures and Simon Birgander picking up a double-double of 14 points and 13 rebounds, with 3 blocks and 2 steals on the side.
Heroic effort by Sweden
They Said
“Today was a great reminder. At the end of the day, every team that made it to this point is very talented, every team can come out and beat you. Maybe we were a little full of ourselves, maybe we were a little too confident going into this game, and this was a great reminder for us that it doesn’t matter who you’re playing against, every team can beat you.” – Shane Larkin, Türkiye
“It’s impressive to win the game even when we’re not at our best.” – Cedi Osman, Türkiye
“We came here with a great roster, all players had a great motivation. We sacrificed from the last week of July, we worked very hard and now we are ready to fight for the medal.” – Türkiye head coach Ergin Ataman
For more quotes, tune in to the official post-game press conference!
Gone are the days when you could pick virtually anything to list on Amazon and make a profit.
“Every year gets harder,” seven-figure Amazon seller Lisa Harrington, who listed dog harnesses on the platform in 2013 before pivoting to interior cat doors, told Business Insider. “2013 was as easy as it comes: Make a great product, ship it in, make a listing, and just don’t break it. Don’t run out of stock.”
When Eugene Khayman, cofounder of the exclusive Million Dollar Sellers club, started listing fitness and kitchen items on Amazon about a decade ago, his product selection wasn’t based on data or metrics.
“It was just 100% feeling,” he said. “There wasn’t much research as far as what had traffic because such tools and data weren’t even available at that point, so it was very much like looking for a product and thinking, ‘Oh, that looks cool. Maybe I should try selling it.’”
In 2025, selling on Amazon is much more competitive — and to survive, product selection is key.
BI asked elite sellers, including Harrington, Khayman, and Alex Yale, who runs two seven-figure Amazon brands, to weigh in on the keys to selecting a winning product.
1. Create something you can patent
“Try for some IP advantage if you can,” said Yale, whose Flip-It! Cap product is patent-protected. “I stay away from any Chinese-sourced products that don’t have a patent or any kind of IP protection, because within two months, if you see success on a product that you import from China, they’ll be selling it for 20% to 30% less on Amazon and competing with you.”
He explained that a major problem for e-commerce entrepreneurs in 2025 is competing with Chinese sellers who can cut the middleman by manufacturing their own products, then selling directly on Amazon. One way to avoid the competition outright is to sell patented products that nobody can copy.
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Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know
Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know
That’s what Harrington does. A few years into selling interior cat doors, she decided to patent her product.
Harrington has designed and patented multiple interior cat doors.
Courtesy of Lisa Harrington
“My gut told me that it was going to be a big deal, and I should really invest in intellectual property, so I found the best attorney I could and spent $10,000 on a patent application,” she said. She now has 10 patented products, and her brand, Purrfect Portal, is the No. 1 selling cat door on Amazon.
She doesn’t think her original product — dog harnesses, which profited enough in the early 2010s to fund Purrfect Portal — would survive today as an unpatented product.
“I wouldn’t be able to make any money doing it. In some cases, you’re competing with brands that are the factory or have a lower cost of goods, and so it’s really hard as an American brand to compete that way,” she said.
Harrington continued: “I think to really succeed on Amazon today, you need to have a moat — and the moat is either something that is sourced in the United States, something that is very difficult to make, or intellectual property, like a utility patent.”
2. Calculate the TAM
The TAM, or total addressable market, is the total revenue potential for your product if it were to capture the entire market.
Calculating TAM, which you can do by multiplying the total number of potential customers by the average revenue per customer, will help you decide whether or not the market is worth going after. Is there enough demand?
That’s the first question Yale asks himself before launching any new products. If the answer is, yes, the market is big enough, he starts to think about how he could create something distinguishing from existing competitors: “What can I do better or differently than what’s out there today, so I can compel and convert customers?”
At the end of the day, if you’re looking to build a lasting brand, “You need to be in a market that has a TAM that’s big enough for you to grow,” added Khayman.
3. Create a product that solves a problem
“Launch products that solve problems,” said Yale, who has found success selling eco-friendly cleaning products such as septic pods.
“If you start a brand and you’re chasing a fad, you might have a couple of great years, but over time, your sales are going to slide with the fad,” he said. If you want to build a brand that has staying power, “you do that by solving everyday problems with everyday consumers.”
Alex Yale is the founder of the cleaning brand Uncle Todd’s
Courtesy of Alex Yale
Start by thinking about your own life and the problems, big or small, that you face. That’s how Harrington’s cat door business came about.
“I am a cat lady — I’ve always been a cat lady — and I really wanted an interior cat door. When I went online, there was only one option,” she said. And it wasn’t what she was looking for: “It was the quintessential, ‘I can do this better.’”
4. Selling consumables is easier than selling one-time products
Yale recommends picking a product that people need to buy over and over again. All of his cleaning products are consumables — meaning, if his customers like the product, they’ll likely be returning to buy more.
“Selling a one-time product that you can’t get repeat purchases on is really difficult,” he said. That’s because acquiring new customers is challenging and expensive. “But my hope is that if somebody buys it once, then in six or 12 months, they’ll come back and buy it again, and I won’t have to keep acquiring that customer every single time.”
Manchester United wingback Patrick Dorgu revealed that there was a sense of “shock” when it was revealed that Rasmus Højlund would be joining Napoli this summer.
The Danish striker had certainly made his desire to stay at Old Trafford abundantly apparent behind closed doors and in public. “I have a contract until 2030, so I expect to play for Manchester United,” Højlund huffed in early June.
That stance didn’t shift even after the summer arrivals of Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, who joined from Brentford and Wolverhampton Wanderers respectively for a combined £133.5 million ($176.2 million). “My plan is very clear, that is for me to stay and fight for my spot, whatever happens,” Højlund stubbornly insisted at the end of July.
“Competition is fine with me. It sharpens me. I’m more than ready.”
Yet, Ruben Amorim didn’t even give the 22-year-old a fighting chance. Højlund was dropped from United’s matchday squads and reluctantly appeared to accept his fate once the club paid an initial £66.3 million for Slovenian striker Benjamin Šeško in August.
Dorgu had already seen his Danish compatriot Christian Eriksen head for pastures new as his contract was allowed to expire in June, but the departure of Højlund proved to be more of a surprise even for one of the player’s close friends. “That’s how it is in football,” Dorgu told assembled media ahead of Denmark’s World Cup qualifier with Scotland on Friday.
“You never know when it’s your turn to move on. We knew it would happen to Christian, but it was perhaps a bigger shock that Rasmus had to move on. I talked to him a lot during the process and could sense which way it was going. Hopefully, we will now see each other every time on the national team.”
Upon his arrival at Napoli, the reigning Serie A champions, Højlund conceded: “I come with a lot to prove.” The Dane will spend the current campaign on loan with Antonio Conte’s side before his arrival is made permanent next summer for a pre-agreed fee of £38.2 million.
READ THE LATEST TRANSFER NEWS AND RUMORS FROM WORLD SOCCER
Nicolo Barella shone for Italy in their World Cup qualifying win over Estonia, despite not playing in a very familiar role.
Today’s print edition of Rome-based newspaper Corriere dello Sport, via FCInterNews, hail the 28-year-old for performing well in a two-man midfield.
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Italy beat Estonia yesterday in a World Cup qualifying win. They won by the emphatic scoreline of 5-0.
Gennaro Gattuso got his reign as Azzurri off to the best possible start with the victory.
Italy were not able to score in the first half, despite their complete dominance of possession.
However, in the second half the floodgates opened, with the Azzurri scoring five goals without reply.
Nicolo Barella Impresses In Unfamiliar Role For Italy Vs Estonia
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – JUNE 30: Nicolo Barella #23 of FC Internazionale Milano looks on prior to the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 round of 16 match between FC Internazionale Milano and Fluminense FC at Bank of America Stadium on June 30, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
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Gattuso started three Inter players in yesterday’s World Cup qualifier.
As the Corrirere dello Sport notes, Nicolo Barella was paired with Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali in a double pivot.
Playing in a two-man midfield is not really a familiar role for Barella.
The former Cagliari midfielder has almost exclusively played in a midfield trio for Inter. Furthermore, that is the system past Italy coaches have used as well.
Barella’s favourite position is on the right side of the trio. However, he put in an impressive display in holding midfield in Inter’s Serie A opener against Torino.
Against Estonia, however, Italy coach Gennaro Gattuso went with a 4-4-2 system. This was to accommodate two strikers on the pitch.
That entailed Barella and Tonali having to cover a lot of ground.
Even in this system, though, the Corriere dello Sport view Barella’s performance as having been more than solid.
LAHORE, Sep 06 (APP):On the directions of Chief Minister(CM) Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif, extensive mosquito repellent and disinfectant sprays were being carried out in flood relief camps across the province to protect victims from infectious diseases.
According to official sources,anti-fog and anti-dengue spraying has been initiated in relief camps and tent cities established in flood-affected areas.
Teams of Suthra Punjab have also been deployed to ensure cleanliness and hygiene.
The CM directed that the anti-dengue campaign must continue uninterrupted in all flood-hit districts, including Narowal, Nankana Sahib and Pakpattan in order to safeguard public health.
Why Pakistan signed SCO declaration on Pahalgam attack? Islamabad in panic, says its position is…
Pakistan signed a joint declaration issued at the two-day Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, China, that condemned the Pahalgam terror attack.
Published: September 6, 2025 4:13 PM IST
(File)
In a move that came as a surprise to many experts, Pakistan signed a joint declaration issued at the two-day Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, China, that condemned the Pahalgam terror attack, and also concurred with India’s stance on terrorism. Islamabad’s sudden U-turn was a surprising move as it had previously opposed similar declarations at various international forums, including the UN Security Council.
Why Pakistan signed the SCO declaration on Pahalgam?
Following the SCO declaration, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said that Islamabad completely agreed with how the joint-statement was worded as it matches its own stance on Pahalgam terror attack. “‘We certainly agree with the language used in the SCO statement regarding the Pahalgam incident. It matches our declared position,” the ministry said in a statement.
It claimed that the position of SCO was in sync with Pakistan’s stance on the Jaffer Express hijacking, as the declaration also condemned the terror attacks in Khuzdar and on the Jaffer Express train in Pakistan’s Balochistan province.
On New Delhi’s stance on the India-Pakistan issue, the foreign ministry spokesperson said “We cannot comment on Delhi’s uneasiness. This is a matter between the two countries”, while also ‘advising’ India to walk the path of peace and avoid confrontation.
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What did SCO declaration say on Pahalgam attack?
Earlier this week, a joint declaration was adopted at the SCO Summit 2025 in China’s Tianjin city, that strongly condemned the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and concurred with India’s position that “double standards” in the fight against terrorism are unacceptable.
The declaration said the SCO members, while reaffirming their firm commitment to the fight against terrorism, separatism and extremism, stress the inadmissibility of attempts to use terrorist, separatist and extremist groups for “mercenary purposes”.
“The member states strongly condemn terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, stress that double standards in the fight against terrorism are unacceptable, and call on the international community to combat terrorism, including cross-border movement of terrorists,” it said.
Fast food has long been a guilty pleasure – quick, satisfying and widely loved. But behind the convenience and comfort lies a hidden cost: starchy burgers, fries and sugary add-ons can send blood sugar soaring, creating sharp glucose spikes that strain the body over time. The question many wonder is – can there be a healthier way to enjoy fast food without wreaking havoc on your system?
Jessie Inchauspé has revealed a simple hack to lessen the impact of blood sugar spikes after consuming fast foods.(Unsplash)
Also Read | French biochemist reveals the best type of exercise for fat burning: ‘If your goal is fat loss, you should…’
Jessie Inchauspé, a French biochemist, NYT bestselling author, and health activist popularly known as the Glucose Goddess on social media, recently shared a personal experiment highlighting how small dietary tweaks can alter the body’s response to fast food.
In an Instagram video posted on August 6, she compared two identical meals, differing only in one small addition, to map the impact of fast food on glucose levels. Her findings point to a simple adjustment that can significantly blunt the physiological effects of a high-starch meal.
The experiment
In the video, Jessie shows a ‘fun and controversial’ graph which maps out glucose levels spiked after consuming a fast food meal. Jesse conducted the test with two identical fast-food meals – a cheeseburger and large fries – eaten on separate days.
“So, this is a big fast food meal with a cheeseburger, large fries, and on its own, of course, it creates a big glucose spike because it contains a lot of starches,” she said. The only difference: on one occasion, she “just added at the beginning of this fast food meal a green salad that I got at the same fast food chain, and I asked for some vinegar that they had in a little packet.” She ate the green salad topped with vinegar dressing before consuming her big fast food meal.
Adding the green vegetables before the starchy meal significantly decreased the spike in her glucose levels, producing a gentler, more controlled curve on the graph.
Also Read | French biochemist shares the ‘easiest way to reduce blood sugar spikes’: Do this simple 5–10 minute exercise after meals
Why is it controversial?
Jessie’s experiment could draw criticism from skeptics who may see it as offering a free pass to indulge in unlimited fast food, so long as it’s preceded by vegetables. However, Jessie clarifies, “What I’m explaining is that adding a veggie starter to your usual habits will significantly help your health. I’m not saying add a veggie starter and eat worse than before. I’m saying eat like you normally eat plus add this hack in and you will see an impact.” The goal isn’t to justify poor dietary choices, but to encourage realistic, incremental changes.
Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. It is based on user-generated content from social media. HT.com has not independently verified the claims and does not endorse them.
Flanker Ardie Savea has pulled off many crucial turnovers, but his effort after 78 minutes in his 100th Test was vital to New Zealand’s 24-17 win over South Africa in a pulsating Lipovital-D Rugby Championship Test in Auckland.
The victory ensured New Zealand’s unbeaten run was extended to 51 games while lifting the All Blacks further ahead on the World Rugby rankings, while South Africa slipped to third.
While the finish had the All Blacks under intense pressure, so typical of contests between the two great nations, it was New Zealand’s superior attacking finesse earlier that set up their winning advantage.
It wasn’t the perfect performance, but it was gutsy and just what was needed after their loss in their previous Test against Argentina.
The rugby relationship between the countries was evident in the intensity and vigour exhibited, but the superior All Blacks’ defence and attacking continuity made the difference.
South Africa didn’t concede without a last-ditch response and got within seven points when replacement halfback Cobus Reinach crossed after a penalty advantage.
Scoring three tries to two, the All Blacks earlier forced a string of mistakes from the Springboks, who could reflect on several lost opportunities, and they finished the game with 14 men after replacement No8 Kwagga Smith had been sin-binned.
South Africa got themselves into attacking positions in the All Blacks’ 22m area, but each time, their mistakes denied them the chance to build. Dropped passes occurred during the rain that fell just after the start, but on other occasions, halfback Grant Williams dropped the ball cold from the top of a lineout, hooker Malcolm Marx conceded a free-kick when miscommunication occurred with his jumpers and lock Eben Etzebeth was penalised for an illegal tackle that upended replacement fullback Damian McKenzie.
Their lineout was also under pressure as the All Blacks stole three first-half takes. The trend continued into the second half, with obstruction denying South Africa yet another attacking chance. At the start of the final quarter, a forward pass was thrown 15m out from the All Blacks’ line.
But this time, the All Blacks were pushed off the ball, and Smith took the ball to the line, and in the resulting play, hooker Malcolm Marx scored.
However, South African obstruction from the restart gave the All Blacks a penalty, which was kicked to the corner, where, from the lineout play, Smith was sin-binned. From the subsequent lineout, the All Blacks pack went on the assault at the line. But it was only when the ball was released to the backs that replacement second five-eighths Quinn Tupaea got over for the 65th-minute try.
The All Blacks also made handling mistakes, and struggled to deal with the high ball, conceding knock-ons and turnovers resulting from failures to control the bouncing ball.
But they looked more dangerous in their movement of the ball, and took their chances when they arose.
The All Blacks made a sensational start, scoring after 90 seconds. South Africa tried to move the ball at speed from their first touches, but they dropped the ball. Centre Billy Proctor kicked deep into South Africa’s 22m. Chasing pressure from fullback Will Jordan resulted in a scrambled kick to touch.
The All Blacks played a variation at the lineout with Ardie Savea at halfback, and halfback Finlay Christie standing off. He passed on to first five-eighths Beauden Barrett, who lobbed a kick to right wing Emoni Narawa. Diving to secure the ball, he went through the legs of his defender, got back to his feet, sold a dummy and scored.
His delight proved short-lived. Chasing and securing a high kick, he suffered a rib injury and was replaced by McKenzie, with Jordan moving to the wing.
South Africa looked for midfield breakthroughs and employed their famous midfield ‘lineout’, but were penalised by referee Karl Dickson when the All Blacks secured the ball due to no maul having been formed.
Soon after, a South African kick through was fielded by Beauden Barrett, who lobbed an immaculate left-foot kick into the 22m to secure a 50-22. From the lineout, a long throw found No8 Wallace Sititi, who was at halfback. He ran into space, flicked the ball inside to Jordan, who had come off his wing, and broke the defence to score.
The two sides do battle again next Saturday in Wellington.
Scorers: New Zealand 24 (Emoni Narawa, Will Jordan, Quinn Tupaea tries; Jordie Barrett con; Damian McKenzie 2 con, pen ) South Africa 17 (Malclom Marx, Cobus Reinach tries; Handre Pollard pen: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu 2 con). HT: 14-3
In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Sabine Kapasi – CEO at Enira Consulting, Founder of ROPAN Healthcare, and UN advisor – shared that reducing salt intake is crucial for public health, particularly in India, where excessive salt consumption is linked to approximately 175,000 deaths annually due to high blood pressure-related issues. Also read | Always add extra salt to your meals? Here’s what it actually does to your body over time
WHO states that excessive sodium intake causes millions of deaths worldwide each year.(Shutterstock)
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a daily sodium intake of less than 2 grams (or 5 grams of salt), but Indians consume over 12 grams of salt daily, more than double the recommended amount. Highlighting this, Dr Kapasi said, “Too much salt is slowly killing people. WHO states that excessive sodium intake causes approximately 1.9 million deaths worldwide each year. The recommended daily intake of sodium is 2 grams, but the average person worldwide consumes more than 4.3 grams.”
She added, “The situation in India is even worse. A national workshop with Resolve to Save Lives in June this year showed that Indians eat more than 12 grams of salt a day, which is more than twice the recommended amount. This is linked to about 175,000 deaths each year from problems related to high blood pressure.”
Dr Kapasi further shared that one of the main causes of heart disease, stroke, and kidney problems in the country is high blood pressure: “The cost of treating these conditions is very high, and the economic effects go beyond hospitals. Early deaths and long-term illnesses lower productivity and put more stress on families that are already dealing with rising healthcare costs.”
Salt hiding in everyday foods
According to Dr Kapasi, cutting back on salt can be tough because it’s hidden in many foods that don’t even taste salty. “It is hard to cut back on salt because it can be found in foods that most people do not consider salty. Bread, cheese, instant noodles, packaged snacks, canned soups, and even breakfast cereals all have a lot of sodium in them. As more people in cities rely on processed foods, India could make the same mistakes as richer countries, where packaged foods became staples before regulations caught up,” she said.
Reducing sodium intake is crucial for public health, particularly in countries like India, where excessive salt consumption is linked to numerous deaths. Dr Kapasi shared what we can learn from other countries and how India can benefit.
She said, “The National Institutes of Health (NIH) says that processed foods make up almost 80 percent of the sodium people in Australia eat. Health officials have made lowering sodium levels in food a top priority because one in three adults already has high blood pressure. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has set voluntary goals for food makers in the US to lower the amount of sodium in their products. These examples show that rules and people knowing about them can change how food systems work.”
She added, “India has an edge in this case. Compared to richer countries, packaged and ultra-processed foods still make up a smaller part of people’s diets. Setting sodium limits early on can prevent people from relying on salty packaged foods.”
WHO recently said that potassium-enriched salt is a good alternative to regular table salt. It has potassium chloride instead of sodium chloride.(Shutterstock)
Why potassium-enriched salt is a good option
Dr Kapasi highlighted that potassium-enriched salt is gaining attention as a healthier alternative to regular table salt – by replacing some sodium chloride with potassium chloride, it reduces sodium intake while increasing potassium consumption, benefiting heart and muscle health.
She said, “WHO recently said that potassium-enriched salt is a good alternative to regular table salt. It has potassium chloride instead of sodium chloride. This simple change lowers the amount of sodium you eat and raises the amount of potassium, which is important for the health of your heart and muscles. The WHO says that people should get 3.5 grams of potassium every day, but most people do not.”
“The Lancet published research that says that using potassium-enriched salt widely could save hundreds of thousands of lives each year in countries like India and China. India could see major public health benefits from encouraging its use in homes, schools, and the food industry. Cost and distribution are still problems, but with help from the government and the industry, the product can get to homes of all income levels,” Dr Kapasi added.
Putting higher rates on foods loaded with sodium and tightening rules on ads that target children could send a clear signal to both companies and consumers.
Why policy should be in charge
Dr Kapasi explained that implementing nutrition labels on food packages, taxes on high-sodium foods, and stricter advertising regulations can encourage healthier choices. “Individual awareness is helpful, but policy changes are needed to make the system work better. Nutrition labels on the front of packages that are easy to read can help people make choices and force food companies to change their recipes. Countries in Latin America have shown that these kinds of labels make people less likely to buy foods high in sodium,” she said.
Dr Kapasi added, “Taxes can make a difference too. Putting higher rates on foods loaded with sodium and tightening rules on ads that target children would send a clear signal to both companies and consumers. Food makers may resist, but the savings in healthcare and the lives protected outweigh the short-term opposition.”
India’s commitment and gaps
She further shared that India aims to reduce average salt consumption by 30 percent by 2030 — however, progress has been slow due to the lack of a national strategy for reducing salt intake. According to Dr Kapasi, Nutrition Week 2025 (September 1-7) presents an opportunity to push for stronger action and bring policymakers, industry, and healthcare professionals together to address this critical public health issue.
Dr Kapasi said, “India has promised to cut the average amount of salt people eat by 30 percent by 2030. This is a change from its previous goal of 2025, which was in line with WHO’s global non-communicable disease action plan. Things have not gone smoothly so far, mostly because there is no national strategy for reducing salt intake. The rules are still weak, and not many people know about them.”
She added that ‘nutrition campaigns are progressing;. “They are reaching more people, and public health advocates are pushing for stronger action. Nutrition Week 2025 is an opportunity to keep salt reduction in focus and bring policymakers, industry, and healthcare professionals to the same table,” Dr Kapasi said.
A shared responsibility
According to Dr Kapasi, reducing salt intake is a collective effort that requires government policies, food industry reformulation, healthcare professional guidance, and public awareness. Individuals cannot be the only ones responsible for cutting back on salt.
She said, “It should be easier to make healthy choices because of government policies. Food companies need to change the way they make their products and market them. Doctors and nurses need to tell their patients about the dangers of eating too much salt. The media and civil society should help raise awareness.”
“If people do not pay attention, the country could end up with more preventable diseases that hurt the economy and make communities weaker. India’s young population is thought to be an economic strength, but that strength is weakened if high blood pressure and heart disease keep getting worse,” she added.
Dr Kapasi concluded, “There is no doubt about the evidence that too much salt is killing millions of people around the world and hundreds of thousands in India. Potassium-enriched salt, nutrition labels, taxes on unhealthy products, and stricter advertising rules are all things that can help people eat less. Nutrition Week 2025 should mark a new beginning. One of the cheapest ways to improve public health is to cut down on salt. If put into action with determination, it could save millions of lives, lower healthcare costs, and make life better for generations to come.”
Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
