We Eat Twice the Salt We Should: What the WHO Says
AdvancedFood & Cooking
We Eat Twice the Salt We Should
What the WHO says
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Good morning, everyone. My grandfather loved salty food, and he had high blood pressure for most of his life. Recently, I checked how much salt I eat, and I was shocked. Today, I'll share what the World Health Organization says about salt.
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for most of his life
During the larger part of his life.
I was shocked
I was very surprised in a bad way.
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01We Eat Twice the Salt We Should
Good morning, everyone. My grandfather loved salty food, and he had high blood pressure for most of his life. Recently, I checked how much salt I eat, and I was shocked. Today, I'll share what the World Health Organization says about salt.
02The Recommendation
The WHO recommends that adults eat less than five grams of salt a day. That's about one teaspoon, in total, from all the food we eat.
Source: World Health Organization, "Sodium reduction" fact sheet
03What We Actually Eat
But according to the WHO, the average adult around the world ate about eleven grams of salt a day in 2021. That's more than twice the recommended amount.
Source: World Health Organization, "Sodium reduction" fact sheet
04Why It Matters
Why does this matter? The WHO explains that the main health effect of too much sodium is raised blood pressure, which increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases and other health problems.
Source: World Health Organization, "Sodium reduction" fact sheet
05Where the Salt Hides
The surprising part is where the salt comes from. The WHO notes that it's often found in high amounts in processed foods like bread, processed meat, and snacks, and in sauces like soy sauce and fish sauce. So it's not only the salt shaker on the table.
Source: World Health Organization, "Sodium reduction" fact sheet
06Small Changes That Help
The good news is that small changes help. Read food labels, taste your food before adding salt, and use herbs, lemon, garlic, or spices to add flavor instead.
07Our Taste Can Change
From my own experience, my taste changed after a few weeks of using less salt. Food that once tasted plain started to taste good, and very salty snacks started to feel too strong.
08Conclusion
To sum up, most of us eat more than twice the salt we should, and much of it is hidden. Start with one change this week. Your heart will thank you. Thank you.
Cover photo by Bru-nO on Pixabay