Healthy Eating Tips

It is estimated that among adults in Ireland, Salt intake is 66% above the recommended daily amount. Over half of the salt in our diet comes from processed foods. There are many risks associated with high salt intake. These include an increased risk of stroke, heart disease and high blood pressure.

There is some good news for all of us: Reducing your salt intake is easy. By becoming more salt-aware you can make healtier choices that will reduce your level of salt intake

Tips For Reducing Your Daily Salt Intake

• When buying food, read the label. The anmount of salt and the percentage of your recommended daily intake is often included on the label.
• If you are eating a food that is high in sodium, balance it out by eating it with high potassium foods such as fresh fruit and vegetables.
• Avoid adding extra salt to foods, or reduce the amount you add. Bear in mind that the food may already contain a lot of salt.
• If you are preparing a meal, or if someone is assisting you to prepare a meal, advise them not to add salt or to add very little.
• If you are going to use salt while cooking, add it at the end. This will mean you use much less. This is because as food cooks, the avour of the salt is reduced, so by the end you may need to add more.
• Next months dietary focus will look at the value of calcium in your diet, and include tips on how to achieve your recommended daily intake of calcium.