Most people eat more salt than they need, and eating too much is linked to high blood pressure. The WHO recommends adults have less than 5g of salt a day, just under a teaspoon, including the salt already in foods.
Where salt hides
Stock cubes, seasoning powders, salted and smoked fish, canned foods, instant noodles and snacks can all be high in salt, so it adds up quickly even if you rarely use the salt shaker.
Easy swaps
- Use half a stock cube instead of a whole one, or season with ginger, garlic, onion, pepper and herbs.
- Taste before adding salt at the table.
- Soak salted fish before cooking to draw out some of the salt.
- Check food labels and choose lower-salt options.
Your taste buds adjust within a few weeks, and food starts to taste salty enough with less.
Sources
General information only, not medical advice. If you have a health condition, speak to a qualified health professional.