Salt
Salt is found in almost every food we eat, but the amount varies greatly. Most of the salt we eat (about 75%) comes from processed foods. Did you know that high intakes of salt can increase your blood pressure and your risk of cardiovascular disease (heart, stroke and blood vessel disease)?
We recommend lowering salt (sodium chloride) consumption to reduce blood pressure and lower your risk of cardiovascular disease. The goal for an average adult is to consume less than 2300mg of sodium per day.
High levels of salt often appear in such foods as chips, salted nuts, canned and packet soups and sauces, baked beans and canned vegetables, pies and sausage rolls (or other processed meats), pizzas and other ready meals that typically contain a lot of salt.
Ideally, you should try to have a balanced diet that contains fresh fruit and vegetables, moderate amounts of lean meat, and plenty of grain-based foods (bread, pasta, etc). You can easily get your requirements from the natural salts in fresh foods, so there is no need to add salt to a healthy eating plan.
Resources
Dietary Electrolytes Position Statement (2006)
Download
Dietary electrolytes Position Statement FAQs (2006)
Download
Contact Us
If you would like further information about salt and dietary electrolytes, please call us on 1300 36 27 87 or email us.