World Salt Awareness Week
The problem is not only about the added salt in food, but also the salt already concealed in the food through various processes.
As we are celebrating World Salt Awareness Week from 4 to 11 March, ER24 is urging people to cut down on their salt intake. Too much salt in your diet can contribute to high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, osteoporosis, stomach cancer, kidney disease, and obesity, among others.
Strokes and heart disease are two of the biggest causes of death and disability worldwide.
Dr Robyn Holgate, ER24’s Chief Medical Officer, explained how salt increases blood pressure.“When you eat too much salt or sodium, your body holds on to extra water to wash the salt out. The added water, as a result of the salt, puts more stress on the heart and the blood vessels and may increase your blood pressure.”
The problem is not only about the added salt in food, but also the salt already concealed in the food through various processes.
Robyn said “There is a lot of salt that you might be unaware of that is hidden in food, like Monosodium Glutamate (MSG). Those are the things we don’t necessarily look for on the labels, and that may result in you having a higher salt intake than you really should. Your salt intake should be less than a teaspoon of salt a day.”
Robyn further recommended ways in which you can lower your salt intake.
“Avoid table salt, high sodium foods and salt substitutes. Read the labels and make sure that you choose food that is sodium free, low sodium or unsalted. Watch the salt substitutes, some of them still contain sodium although they might say salt-free. High sodium foods include bacon and most processed foods,” said Robyn.
More recommendations on how to cut down on your salt intake:
Cut down on obviously salty foods such as potato chips, bacon and foods packed in brine. Switch to low salt (low sodium) versions of foods. When you buy stock cubes, look for a brand that is low in salt and free from hydrogenated vegetable oil. Cut down the amount of salt you add when cooking and use herbs and spices to season your food instead of salt. Preparing your food at home can largely reduce your salt intake, as you have control over the preparation methods as well as what you add to the ingredients.
