We’re a salt-loving nation, but it’s this habit that could see us kick the proverbial bucket a lot sooner than we bargained for, warn health experts.
We’re a salt-loving nation, but it’s this habit that could see us kick the proverbial bucket a lot sooner than we bargained for, warn health experts.
Salt is the major factor that increases blood pressure and is therefore indirectly responsible for many heart attacks and strokes annually. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) today claims more lives than all forms of cancer combined, and according to SA’s leading provider of cardiovascular (CVS) medication, medicine sales related to heart- and blood pressure conditions are at an all-time high.
Mariska van Aswegen, spokesperson for Pharma Dynamics says annual medicine sales for CVS conditions are sitting at R3.1 billion – about 23 percent higher than five years ago.
“Although there are many risk factors, our salt intake could triple our risk of developing heart disease or stroke. Our bodies need salt to function optimally, but many of us just eat too much of it.
“SA’s salt consumption could be as high as 40g a day, which is way above the World Health Organisation’s recommended intake of less than 5g a day.
When it comes to our discretionary salt consumption, which is the amount of salt we add to food ourselves, it is as high as 40 percent a day. In most other Westernised countries, the discretionary use of salt is in the region of 15 percent.”
Van Aswegen says it’s high time that South Africans wake up to the dangers of excess salt consumption and make healthy eating part of a healthy lifestyle.
“More than 80 percent of heart diseases can be prevented if we consume less salt.”
According to international health guidelines, adults should try to make sure their daily intake of salt is no more than 5g a day and children need even less.
The daily recommended maximum for children is:
1 to 3 years – 2 g salt a day (0.8 g sodium)
4 to 6 years – 3 g salt a day (1.2 g sodium)
7 to 10 years – 5 g salt a day (2 g sodium)
11 and over – 6 g salt a day (2.4 g sodium)
Approximately 75 percent of the salt we eat is already in the food we buy.
Foods high in salt include:
Ham, bacon, sausages, salami and other processed meats
Canned, packet or instant soups
Smoked meat and fish
Cheese
