Cardiovascular diseases and stroke are the leading causes of death for Iowans, according to the state chapter of the American Heart Association. Salt intake is getting a lot more attention now on food labels and in the media, which is potentially life-saving news, according to registered dietician Marianne Merrick.  Merrick says, “We can really decrease the number of deaths from heart disease if we start paying more attention to how much sodium we are having on a daily basis.” Merrick advises patients who have a salty appetite to slowly start weaning themselves off sodium, especially by keeping an eye on labels of canned and packaged products. She says most of us have too much sodium in our diets.

“Our intakes are too high,” Merrick says. “A big part of it is eating processed foods. I’m a big promoter of going back to basics.” That means eating healthier by eating more fresh foods, especially fruits and vegetables. She says, “Not having the canned foods and the lunch meats and even bread and rolls can be high in sodium, reading those labels.” A recent national study concludes that merely cutting back on salt could save hundreds of thousands of lives nationwide in the next decade. Iowa sees an average of 92-hundred deaths every year from cardiovascular disease. Some 90-thousand Iowans have heart attacks or are diagnosed with coronary heart disease every year, and 60-thousand Iowans have a stroke.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Governor Terry Branstad still isn’t ruling out the possibility of increasing the state fuel tax. Lawmakers seem less optimistic. Branstad says that if the Legislature approves proposed cuts to the commercial property tax, then a fuel tax increase “could be considered.” The tax has not gone up since 1989.

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) — The Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust has given the University of Northern Iowa a $2 million grant for a new educational research and development center. The money will go toward the Center for Educational Transformation. The center’s goal is to transform education through research, advocacy and innovation.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A shooting outside of a Des Moines-area strip club has killed one man in a large crowd and injured another. The shooting that killed Reginald Bryan happened in a parking lot outside Big Earl’s Gold Mine club. More than 300 people were gathered between the strip club and a nearby gas station for an after-hours party.

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — A domestic assault trial for the father of one of the cousins abducted in Evansdale and later found dead has been delayed. Witness schedule issues forced delay of the trial of Daniel Morrissey for assault against Misty Cook. He also has pleaded not guilty to criminal conduct and conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine.