Salt - read the lable.

Christmas is just around the corner and the usual excesses of over indulgence are inevitable.

This year a clear message from the organisation Action on Salt and Health encourages us all to "Read the Lable" and be aware of how much salt we eat - both that which is contained in our food or the salt we add to it. Many peo,ple are surprised to learn that the main source of salt in our diet is in from bread and some breakfast cereals along with processed manufactured foods.

you can read more about salt and it's effect on high blood pressure here http://www.actiononsalt.org.uk/health/salt_and_health/blood_pressure.htm

The salt we eat is sodium and chloride. Many food labels only show the amount of sodium although pressure from healthcare bodies is mounting to change this.

You need to multiply the sodium quantity by 2.5 to convert it to salt, sodium and chloride.

ie, 1 gram of sodium = 2.5 grams of salt.

A simple guideline is avoid foods that contain more than 0.2 grams of sodium per 100 grams of food and choose foods that contain less than 0.1 grams of sodium per 100 grams.

Ideally your salt intake should be less than 5 or 6 grams per day (the lower the better), which is one teaspoonful.

Learn about alternatives you can use instead of salt to flavour your food and maintain a healthy diet.
http://www.hearttalks.com/blood-pressure/no-added-salt-diet-lowers-blood-pressure/trackback/