SALT

Most of us know too much salt is bad for us. What’s less well-known is that too little is also harmful.

We need salt for muscle and nerve activity. If we eat too little, we develop cramps and neurological symptoms, and can even die. But most of us consume too much salt. Excess salt intake is linked to high blood pressure.

The NHS recommends that adults should consume 6g of salt a day, but our intake is nearer 8g. Yet working out how much we eat can be tricky because salt is hidden in many foods. A whopping 75% of salt we eat comes from foods like bread, baked beans and biscuits, while salt added during cooking and at the table makes up a small amount of our intake. – SA VERDICT: Keeping salt intake down can help blood pressure stay healthy.