Choose Foods Low in Salt
National guidelines recommend for us to choose foods low in salt as a high salt intake is associated with high blood pressure, increasing our risk of heart disease and stroke.
Most of our salt intake actually comes from processed and takeaway foods such as pies, chips and savoury crackers, commercial sauces and soups. So, in addition to being aware of the salt you add to home prepared foods, it is beneficial to:
- Look for ‘reduced-salt’ or ‘low-salt’ foods when shopping. A low-salt food contains less than 120mg of sodium per 100g.
- Try to limit salty snacks, takeaway foods, processed meats, cheese and butter.
- Use other ingredients such as herbs, to flavour your meals. Enjoy fresh foods, especially fruits and vegetables, as often as possible.