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Salt Updated: 28 Jun 2010

Salt myths

I don't add salt to my food, so I can't be eating too much sodium

About 65 to 70 percent comes from processed food such as cereals, bread, sauces, and processed meats and sodium also occurs naturally in foods. So, before you assume you don't eat much salt, take a look at what you're buying.

Food has no flavour without salt

If you're used to salty foods, you may miss it when you first cut down. But our taste buds get used to eating less salt in a few weeks - so then you'll enjoy food with less salt. To add flavour, you can also replace salt with lemon juice, herbs and spices.

Only older people need to watch their salt intake

Eating too much salt at any age can raise your blood pressure. It's true you have less of a risk of heart disease or strokes if you're younger. But if you have high blood pressure when you're young, you're at greater risk of these problems.

Sea salt and other designer salts are better for you than regular table salt

Salt is made up of sodium and chloride. It's the sodium in salt that can raise your blood pressure. It doesn't matter how expensive it is, where it's from, or whether it's in grains or flakes - it still contains sodium.

If I cut back on salt I won't have enough

It's actually very difficult to eat too little salt. It's in so many ready-to-eat foods such as bread, cereals, sauces, and crackers.

I'm keeping my iodine levels up if I eat salt

That's only true if you use iodised salt in cooking or add it to your food. Most of our sodium intake comes from processed food, which doesn't contain iodised salt.

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