Salt Myths

There's nothing wrong with adding salt to my dinner.

Fact: Our bodies need a small amount of sodium, which is found in salt (salt is sodium chloride). Sodium helps the body maintain the right balance of water inside cells and in the spaces around cells, and is essential for muscle and nerve activity. However there is enough naturally occurring sodium in many of the foods we eat (e.g. milk, meat, eggs and seafood) to supply most people's daily needs. In fact, as so many of the foods we buy contain salt, we tend to consume far more sodium than our bodies need. The average Australian adult consumes several times the recommended level of 460-920 mg of sodium and most go way over the upper limit or 2300mg of sodium.

Fresh ideas for reducing salt:

• Substitute salt in cooking with flavoursome alternatives such as garlic, pepper, herbs and spices or a squeeze of lemon or lime juice.
• Make an easy salad dressing using olive oil and balsamic vinegar with fresh herbs added for extra flavour.
• Make your own salt-free pasta sauce by lightly frying chopped Spanish onions and vine-ripened tomatoes in olive oil and garlic, and adding fresh basil, pine nuts and lemon juice.
• If you need a snack, go for fresh fruit, unsalted nuts or unsalted rice crackers.