Studies have shown that more than three-quarters of British consumers don’t realise that breakfast foods such as bread and cereals contribute towards their daily salt intake. When the Food Standards Agency interviewed more than 2000 people, only 13 percent of people chose these foods as having a high salt level, yet around 75 percent of the salt we consume comes from everyday foods, the top three contributors being bread, meat and breakfast cereals.
The recommended quantity of salt, as suggested by the FSA, is just 6g each day – currently, the average adult is eating 8.6g. While the amount of salt in our diet is slowly coming down, it is still not close enough to the recommended amount. Both adults and children need to reduce their daily intake in order to limit the risk of health problems attributed to this seemingly harmless ingredient.
It’s not suggested that you remove these foods from your diet, as they offer other benefits such as iron, vitamins and minerals, and fibre, but it is advised that you read the labels of the products you try and find those with a lower quantity of salt. In the survey carried out by the FSA, it was also discovered that 40 percent of British consumers thought that lower-priced supermarket brand products were higher in salt that a better known brand. This is not always the case though; in fact cheaper products often have some of the lowest salt levels across all brands.
As companies make a bid to create healthier products as the demand for a healthier lifestyle rises, it is expected that salt levels will drop in time – however, until this becomes the norm, it is advised that you seek out products with lower salt levels in order to maintain a healthy diet and improve your wellbeing.
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