SALT AWARENESS WEEK

Salt awareness week is about raising awareness of the damaging effect of too much salt to our health.
According to the world health organisation our daily intake of salt should be 5 grams, most South Africans exceed this amount. Studies has shown that the most salt is consumed from processed foods and take away meals.

But is all salt bad?

No, our bodies need salt (sodium) to survive, because we rely on it for muscle contractions, nerve transmissions and maintaining a proper fluid balance.

Too much salt is a different story. Salt is one of the biggest contributing factors to stroke and heart attacks, it affects our kidneys and also cause fluid retention.

You are welcome to contact us if you need any more information

Reduce your salt intake by following these easy steps:

Start reading labels and limit the products high in salt.

Buy fresh/ frozen products (meat, fruits and vegetables)
- If you use tinned products, rinse and drain the food.
- Avoid processed meat as it is very high in salt.
Make your own meals and avoid take-away’s or instant meals.
- By making your own meals you can limit the amount of salt you add.
Add lemon juice, herbs (oregano, parsley, thyme, mint, dill etc.) and natural spices (cinnamon, chillies, garlic, nutmeg, turmeric, mustard, pepper etc.) to your food instead of salt.
Trust your taste buds – do not add salt before tasting your meals and avoid adding salt to your food while eating.

Author: Dietitian Berna Swanepoel 064 904 0168