Our salt intake is proving to be cause for alarm worldwide especially with processed meats, fast foods and snacks. Adopt healthy eating habits to lower the amount of salt in our diets. The culprits often lie in the most overlooked and simplest places.

Food sources heavy in salt

1. Bread – bread itself is not the actual culprit here. It is the sandwich spreads such as beef and yeast-based spreads and processed cheese spread. These are adding to your daily consumption.

2. Deli Meats – processed meats have now been proven to be exceptionally high. In fact, so much so that the portion size of a hotdog is in fact half a sausage.

3. Pizza – the lethal combination of salt in the dough. The tomato sauce on the base, as well as, any added meats and cheese make this a number one culprit in topping the charts.

4. Burgers – again it is the combination of the patty, cheese, sauces, pickles and the bun that soon add up in making this every day ‘on the run food’ a salty cohort. If you thought those gourmet ‘homemade burgers’ were better you’d be mistaken they are just as loaded.

5. Cheese – salt is added to cheeses not only for flavour but also as a natural preservative, your best options in this regards would be the ‘swiss type’ softer textured cheeses.

Salt and blood pressure

There is conclusive evidence linking high intake to that of increased blood pressure. This in turn often results in and is a major contributing factor to the cause of heart attack and strokes. Salt is also known to be guilty of causing water retention.

What is the daily recommended salt allowance?

No more than 6g a day, whilst in fact, most of us are packing away between 10g and 12g every day.

For optimal health avoid adding salt to your food, use it sparingly when cooking, even going so far as to use low sodium soy sauce or veggie alternatives.

To add flavour to food, opt for fresh herbs and spices … your palate will quickly acclimatise and you will see realise that you no longer like your food quite as salty as before.

Good health is irreplaceable, be wise!