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Salt

Salt is necessary for our health but, on average, we eat more than two and a half times what we need. The Government is trying to reduce salt consumption to no more than 6 grams a day – even lower for babies and children.

Six grams of salt is a teaspoonful. It’s difficult to measure how much salt you eat because 65-85% of our salt is already in the foods we eat, and not what we add in cooking and at the table. Bread, breakfast cereals, biscuits, baked beans and ready-meals can be high in salt, alongside more obviously salty-tasting foods such as crisps, bacon, cheese and olives.

Health bodies argue there is a clear health risk in eating too much salt, not just for blood pressure but also because of links to osteoporosis, stomach cancer and other health problems. Since it is difficult to measure salt sensitivity and much of the salt in our diet is unnecessary, they say the best advice is to cut down and save lives. In Britain, many food manufacturers have agreed to gradually lower salt levels in processed foods.

Eat plenty of vegetables, fruits and seeds whilst taking exercise, do not becoming overweight and not drinking too much alcohol, are other factors important in preventing high blood pressure. Replacing salty processed foods with fresh foods is likely to be beneficial for reasons other than just salt. It is overall diet and lifestyle that matter, not just one part of it.

Links and contact details

Name: British Nutrition Foundation
Web: http://www.nutrition.org.uk/home.asp?siteId=43&sectionId=s
Email: postbox@nutrition.org.uk
Tel: 020 7404 6504
Info: The British Nutrition Foundation is a registered charity and works to promote scientifically based knowledge and advice on the relationship between diet, physical activity and health.

Name: BBC – Nutrition Info Pages
Web: http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/healthy_living/nutrition/

Name: beat – Eating Disorders Association
Web: http://www.b-eat.co.uk
Tel: 08456 347650 (Youthline)
TXT: 07786 20 18 20 (Youthline)
Tel: 08456 341414 (Over 18s Helpline)
Email: fyp@b-eat.co.uk (Youthline Email)
Email: help@b-eat.co.uk (Over 18s Helpline Email)
Info: beat is the leading UK charity for people with eating disorders and their families. beat is the working name of the Eating Disorders Association (EDA).

Name: Weight Concern
Web: http://www.weightconcern.com/
Email: enquiries@weightconcern.org.uk
Tel: 020 7679 1853
Info: Weight Concern is a charity that works to address both the physical and psychological health needs of overweight people.

Name: Weight Wise
Web: www.bdaweightwise.com
Email: info@bda.uk.com

Info: The Weightwise website has been developed for, and is managed by, the British Dietetic Association (BDA), the organisation that represents registered dietitians in the UK.

Name: British Heart Foundation
Web: www.bhf.org.uk
Email: internet@bhf.org.uk
Tel: 020 7554 0000
Info: The British Heart Foundation is a UK voluntary organisation that funds medical research and provides information, advice and support for heart patients.

Name: NHS Direct Wales
Web: www.nhsdirect.wales.nhs.uk
Email:
Tel: 0845 4647
Info: NHS Direct Wales is a health advice and information service available 24 hours a day, every day.

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