Salt plays a constant role in our lives in the food we eat but eating too much salt could see us kick the proverbial bucket a lot sooner than we bargained for.
Salt increases blood pressure and is therefore indirectly responsible for many heart attacks and strokes. Today, cardiovascular disease claims more lives than all forms of cancer combined, according to Mariska van Aswegen, spokesperson for Pharma Dynamics in North Riding.
Van Aswegen said that annual medicine sales for cardiovascular conditions are sitting at R3.1 billion, which is about 23 per cent higher than five years ago, and marks an all-time high.
“Although there are many risk factors, our salt intake could triple our risk of developing heart disease or strokes. Our bodies need salt to function optimally, but many of us just eat too much of it,” Van Aswegen added.
According to the World Health Organisation guidelines, adults should try to make sure their daily intake of salt is no more than 5g a day and children need even less. The daily recommended maximum for children is:
- One to three years – 2g of salt a day
- Four to six years – 3g of salt a day
- Seven to 10 years – 5g of salt a day
- 11 and over – 6g of salt a day.
Approximately 75 per cent of the salt we eat is already in the food we buy. Foods high in salt include:
- Ham, bacon, sausages, salami and other processed meats
- Canned, packet or instant soups
- Smoked meat and fish
- Cheese
- Gravies, yeast extracts, stock cubes and soy sauce
- Tomato sauce, mayonnaise and other sauces
- Ready-made meals and takeaways
- Some jars or packets of cooking sauce
- Olives and pickles
- Salted and dry roasted nuts and potato chips.
“You don’t need to stop eating salty foods altogether. It’s important to be salt-aware, to compare food labels when you are shopping and choose the ones lowest in salt. As a guide, remember that food low in salt, contains less than 0.3g per 100g of the product. If it has more than 1.5g of salt per 100g of the food it’s high in salt,” Van Aswegen commented.
Details: Pharma Dynamics, info@pharmadynamics.co.za, 086 074 2762.
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