Extra Credit 8.docx

Extra credit # 8 - Public Policy That Makes Test Subjects of Us All The New York Times article was quite interesting to read about, especially, when it closed off with ?wherever you live, wherever you eat, you could be part of their experiment.? This left me thinking about what I had just read. However, I support Michael Bloomberg?s plan on making everyone a test subject for the restaurant chains and food industries on cutting down on the salt. I, myself, am a hardcore salt lover. I need salt almost on everything I eat from cheeseburgers to bacon omelets to sometimes even pizza (hard to believe, but its true). All my friends try to help me cut down on it but just does not seem to work with me. Therefore, this plan set by Bloomberg is perfect because the customers would not know that there is just the right amount of salt in their foods. I look at Bloomberg?s plan this way, where once the plan has been initiated, the customers will be eating foods with half the salt in their foods and not realizing that the sodium intake has been cut down. Some people will notice a taste difference and add the missing sodium amounts back into their foods, but eventually after some time people will be getting use to the taste with less amount of sodium in their foods. This is where Bloomberg?s new plan will be known as a success because when research has been done, it should show that people have been taking in less amounts of salts. Although I may be supporting Michael Bloomberg?s new plan, I am well aware of the side effects that can lead to low levels of sodium intake. Because my sodium level has decreased does not mean that my blood pressure will decrease or that I decreased my risk of heart diseases and stroke. Cutting down on sodium does not work for everyone and may eventually cause side effects to the person if his or her sodium level is not monitored from time to time. This deficiency mainly affects children and athletes. In children, vomiting and diarrhea may occur, but for intense athletes such as those who run in marathons may experience severe symptoms of low sodium levels. Sodium, for these athletes helps with the electrolytes that is in their bodies that provides them from getting muscle cramps, feeling dizzy and nausea and/or going into a coma. Overall, I think that Michael Bloomberg?s new plan on making everyone a test subject at a restaurant is a great idea. Even though most people may not like this plan, the majority of the customers/ test subjects know it will be beneficially to them in the long run, especially the young teenagers/ adults.