Facts:

• High sodium consumption contributes to high blood pressure and increases the risk of heart disease and stroke.
• The main source of sodium in our diet is salt

You may be reading this and thinking “I don’t use salt on my food”. But it’s not just salt from your salt grinder.  Salt/Sodium are ingredients in many grocery products: sauces, processed & packaged food such as bread, breakfast cereal or ready meals. In addition, there is salt in restaurant food, canteen food, and take-away establishments.

According to the World Health Organisation, our intake of salt should be less than 5g per day – about a teaspoon of salt, which is equivalent to 2,000mg or 2g of sodium)

Being mindful of ingredients and reading food labels is an important habit to get into as part of a healthy lifestyle. It may be frustrating and time-consuming in the beginning, but you will get to know which products to choose and they will become your grocery cupboard staples.

My parting words of wisdom – Consider buying foods in their most natural form and with little to no sauces and flavorings. Rather add your own flavours to food and try using fresh herbs to flavour your food.

Need suggestions or guidelines? Contact Into Nutrition

Yours in good health

Fiona

*Sources include www.worldactionsalt.com and www.who.int)