In Australia, the average adult consumes between 4-9 grams of salt each day[i], we only need about 1 gram, it really is too much.
To highlight this, High blood pressure is responsible for:
- 60% of all strokes and 50% of all heart disease
- the third greatest burden of disease in Australia after tobacco smoking and physical inactivity
- being the most often managed problem in general medical practice in Australia
- 28% of Australians may have high blood pressure, and over half of people with high blood pressure are going untreated
- Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death and disability in Australia, claiming the lives of 46,134 people in 2005, or 35% of all deaths
- The fact that in 2005, nearly nine times as many women died from cardiovascular disease than died from breast cancer[ii]
A high salt diet can not only lead to high blood pressure, but to osteoporosis, obesity, stomach cancer, kidney stones, and stroke. (AWASH)
How do we eat so much sodium?
Approximately 75% of our sodium intake is from processed foods. So, being aware of your eating habits is a good start to caring for your body. Reading food labels is a good start,
High salt foods that should be eaten sparingly include:
- Most ‘fast’ foods, such as pizza, large chain hamburgers,
- Most snack foods, such as potato chips, rice crisps, snack dips,
- Processed meats, such as sausages, salami, hot dogs and luncheon meats including ham, chicken roll, turkey roll, etc
- Canned vegetables,
- Dehydrated or packet foods, such as instant pasta or soups, “two minute” noodles with flavourings
- Pre-packaged sauces and condiments, such as tomato sauce and soy sauce, and processed tomato products in general
- Breads, bread rolls and other prepared ‘grained’ foods.[iii]
Fortunately, in Australia, under the AWASH 5 year targets of 2007, many of the Large Food Manufacturers made an active effort to manufacture products lower in salt than. At the end of the day, it is still up to the individual to own their choices and choose wisely.
[i] http://www.awash.org.au/healthbenefits.html
Leah Marmulla 