Salt is an essential part of our diet but eating too much may put us at increased risk of developing high blood pressure. This in turn can then be the cause of more serious conditions such as coronary heart disease.

How much salt do we need?

It is recommended that adults should not be eating more than 6g (about one teaspoon) a day. The recommended intake for children varies from 2g to 6g depending on their age. For example, a child aged between 1-3 years should have a maximum of 2g per day, whereas a child aged 7-10 years should eat no more than 5g of salt per day.

How do you know how much salt you are eating?

To really know how much salt we eat in our everyday diet we have to work out how much salt is in each part of our meals. You can do this is by checking the food label or nutritional information on the packaging of food you’re buying. Most food products have a traffic light system on the label. This is done to help you see which foods are high, medium or low in salt. But, it’s not only the salt in the food we consume that we need to be mindful of, it’s also the amount of that we add to our cooking and also to meals.

Which foods contain salt?

Many processed foods contain a considerable amount,  but it can also be found in lower measures within everyday foods like bread, soup and breakfast cereals.  If you eat these foods regularly, the quantities can become high quite quickly.

How can we reduce the amount of Salt in our diets?

Simple ways to reduce your intake can be accomplished by:

• Checking the nutritional information on food labels. Try to pick low-salt options and ingredients

• Add less salt when cooking and don’t add it to your food at the table. As you get used to the taste of food without it, cut it out completely.

• Flavour your food with pepper, herbs, garlic, spices or lemon juice instead.

Information sourced: https://www.bhf.org.uk/heart-health/preventing-heart-disease/healthy-eating/salt

SMP Healthcare Ltd

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