Dietitian helps 4 Chicago restaurants cut down on salt

CHICAGO (AP) - A public health initiative is helping Chicago restaurant patrons cut down on salt.

Advocate Heart Institute and the Chicago Department of Public Health worked with four Chicago restaurants that serve South Asian cuisine. South Asians are at higher risk of heart disease than the general population.

Chefs received training from a dietitian on ways to reduce sodium in popular menu items without sacrificing flavor.

The restaurants - Curry Bowl, Mysore Woodlands, Gaylord Fine Indian Cuisine and Viceroy of India - on average, have reduced the sodium content in their food by nearly 23 percent.

Dr. Shoeb Sitafalwalla (SHOH'-eb Sit-ah-fal-WAL'-uh) is medical director of the South Asian Cardiovascular Center at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital. He says the project shows the power of partnerships to improve health in a community.