Sunkist® S'alternative™ Promotes Using Fresh Lemons as a Healthy and Flavor Enhancing Alternative to Salt

SHERMAN OAKS, Calif., Aug. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- To help cut down on sodium consumption while still enhancing the flavor of food and beverages, Sunkist has launched S'alternative, a health initiative aimed at communicating the benefits of using fresh lemons as a natural alternative to salt. Sunkist lemons are an excellent source of vitamin C, an antioxidant that the body needs replenished daily. Sunkist is spreading awareness for this important health message through the S'alternative Recipe Contest where you can enter your own special recipe featuring Sunkist® lemons instead of salt.  All qualified entries will be featured on www.sunkistsalternative.com and the grand prize winner will receive a $1,000 grocery gift card!

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One of the largest health concerns facing Americans when it comes to food today is the increased consumption of sodium. According to the 2010 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee Report, "Excessive sodium intake, especially when accompanied by inadequate potassium intake, raises blood pressure, a well-accepted and extraordinarily common risk factor for stroke, coronary heart disease, and kidney disease." The report goes on to say, "Inadequate potassium intake raises blood pressure and increases the blood pressure response to excess sodium."

In addition, excessive sodium intake has been linked to:

• High blood pressure: High blood pressure is a leading cause of cardiovascular disease and accounts for two-thirds of all strokes and half of heart disease.
• Cancer: The American Institute for Cancer Research and the World Cancer Research Fund published a report in 2007 that concluded that sodium intake is directly correlated to risk of stomach cancer. Decreasing sodium intake decreases risk of stomach cancer.
• Osteoporosis: Studies in older women have shown that reducing sodium intake can slow the loss of calcium from bone that occurs with aging.

According to a 2010 study led by Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo, MD, an epidemiologist and assistant professor of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, if every American reduced his or her daily sodium intake by just 400 milligrams, 32,000 heart attacks, 20,000 strokes and 28,000 deaths could be prevented each year. Medical experts recommend reducing sodium intake and boosting potassium intake in order to promote optimum health. Using Sunkist lemons as a S'Alternative is an easy and delicious way to do both.

For more information on the S'alternative Recipe Contest including official rules, S’alternative recipe ideas and facts on sodium, go to www.SunkistSalternative.com.

About Sunkist Growers, Inc.

Sunkist Growers is one of agriculture's greatest success stories. Founded more than a century ago, this cooperative is America's oldest and largest citrus marketing company and is owned by thousands of citrus growers in California and Arizona.  The cooperative has developed the most diversified citrus marketing and processing operation anywhere and has created an international market for fresh citrus and citrus products.  Sunkist and "S'alternative" are trademarks of ©2010 Sunkist Growers, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Visit www.sunkist.com for more information.

SOURCE Sunkist Growers, Inc.