Salt Fact
October 27th, 2005Salt adds extra taste to our food, but how much do you know about this tasty flavouring?
Another name for salt is sodium chloride.
Salt has a long history and connection with food. Historically, mentions of salt use go back to 2700 BC.
Recognition and knowledge of salt is believed to have been spread around the world by the early nomads and Europeans as they returned from their foreign travels.
Initially salt was used as an additive for food to help preserve it, but then it became regularly used as a flavouring.
Today we’re recommended to eat a maximum of 9g of salt daily, as too much can cause high blood pressure, strokes and heart disease.
It’s hard to monitor when eating some foods though, but it helps to know that 2.5g sodium is equal to 6g of salt.
Processed foods account for 75% of the salt in our diets.
Many adults regularly exceed the maximum salt intake, eating 9g or more per day. They could be unwittingly putting their health at risk.
We lose a small amount of salt as we sweat.
Salt is one of the most common minerals found on earth.
October 27th, 2005 at 3:26 pm
All prepared foods have a lot of sodium in them, especially ketchup. Be cautious using prepared foods if you suffer from high blood pressure. Great facts.
October 29th, 2005 at 9:43 am
Mark’s right that prepared foods often have a lot of sodium. The question is: so what? As president of the Salt Institute, I’m familiar with (and have contributed to) the medical literature. Blood pressure IS influenced by salt. So is insulin resistance and the activity of the kidney hormone (renin-angiotensin) system. Sum effect: low-salt diets do NOT reduce heart attacks; they may make them worse. See http://www.saltinstitute.org/28.html.
November 1st, 2005 at 5:33 am
Very interesting and topical article. We try and cook our meals from scratch so we can monitor how much salt goes in, as processed foods are often packed with it.
November 5th, 2005 at 11:49 pm
Dick, it’s a proven that salt causes high blood pressure which increases the risk of heart attacks and stroke. Get real man.
April 3rd, 2007 at 2:43 am
I prefered to use Bamboo Salt from korea, its really good and contains lots of mineral.