Lifestyle
Is Salt Bad For You?
3min read
Have you been wondering if salt is actually bad for you? Too often when something tastes great, it’s loaded with salt and sugar, so — how bad is the salty stuff for you?
Is salt bad for you?
In moderation, no salt isn’t bad for you – in fact, we need a certain amount of salt every day for our bodies to function normally. It’s vital to ‘balance fluids in the blood and maintain healthy blood pressure, and it is also essential for nerve and muscle function.’ (Healthline)
However, too much salt is indeed unhealthy for you.
Why is salt bad for you?
According to the NHS website ‘A diet high in salt (or sodium) can cause raised blood pressure, which can increase your risk of heart disease and stroke.’ They go on to give some recommendations for daily intake.
Adults
- ‘Adults should eat no more than 6g of salt a day (2.4g sodium) – that's around 1 teaspoon.
Children (aged)
- ‘1 to 3 years should eat no more than 2g salt a day (0.8g sodium)
- 4 to 6 years should eat no more than 3g salt a day (1.2g sodium)
- 7 to 10 years should eat no more than 5g salt a day (2g sodium)
- 11 years and over should eat no more than 6g salt a day (2.4g sodium)’
Again, taken directly from the NHS website.
Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.
By Fabian Jackson
Fabian is one of our lovely Content Marketing Assistants who loves writing almost as much as he loves coffee, old episodes of Escape to the Country (no judgement here), and cooking up a storm in his kitchen.
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