What sodium does
Sodium controls the fluid balance in your body and helps nerves and muscles work. Too much raises blood pressure, a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke.
How much — at most
The WHO recommends less than 2,000 mg of sodium a day — that’s 5 g of salt, about a teaspoon. Most people eat nearly twice that.
Where it hides
Around three quarters comes from processed foods: bread, cheese, ready meals, stock cubes, crisps — and sauces like soy sauce and miso, and pickled foods like sauerkraut and kimchi.
How many portions of each add up to a day's worth of sodium?
Tips
Cook from scratch, taste before salting, and flavour with herbs, spices, lemon and garlic. When you do salt, make it iodised (Use iodised salt).