Full of Flavour: 8 Top Alternatives to salt
updated the 6 October 2015 à 22:28
Can’t afford to let go of the salty taste? Here are our solutions to preserve the flavours of salt without putting your health at risk.
Health authorities recommend not to consume more than 5 grams of salt per day, equivalent to about 2000mg of sodium. According to figures from ANSES (National Food Safety Agency), men would swallow around 10g a day while about 8g for women. Almost double of what is recommended!
WHY DO WE EAT SALTY FOOD?
The answer is not necessarily on the fault of the salt, although it is better to have a light hand on it, less salt in cooking, seasoning and only after tasting a dish. Or dip into the alternatives suggested above. If these reflexes are essential, they are only the first step to reduce our salt intake. In fact, about 80% of the salt we eat every day is ‘hidden’ in processed foods. It’s hidden in bread, crackers, cold cuts, soups, cheese and ready-to-eat meals. More surprisingly, it is present in sweet foods where it is thought to have nothing to do with, such as croissants or pastries. In short, to limit your salt intake, reduce or remove any instant dishes altogether.
WHAT ARE THE RISKS TO OUR HEALTH?
Water retention is something you could be more prone to, therefore increasing the risk of premature aging or cellulite tissues. Eating too much salt can have adverse effects on our silhouette. More seriously, excessive salt increases blood pressure and thus the risk of cardiovascular disease. Those with hypertension are also recommended to reduce consumption to 4.4g per day, which would reduce average systolic blood pressure by 0.5 points, and diastolic by 0.3 point (the first and respectively second digit of the voltage) in a matter of 4 weeks. Excess salt would also be a contributing factor of gastric cancer.
Laura Gabriela and Nur Syazana H.
