Salt and sodium are often confused and thought by some to be one and the same thing.
In fact, salt is the commonly used name for sodium chloride, but sodium can be found in other food ingredients like sodium bicarbonate (also known as baking powder) or the flavour enhancer, monosodium glutamate (MSG).
This is why it is important to look at the sodium content declared on packaging as the total sodium will often be made up from a number of different ingredients.
Salt is a naturally occurring mineral found in seawater, in deposits underground and on the Earth's surface.
Sodium has a number of important roles to play in the diet
- It helps regulate the fluids and blood pressure in the body.
- It allows for the proper functioning of the nervous system.
- It aids absorption of some nutrients by the body.
Levels of salt on savoury crisps and snacks have been reduced by 25% over the last 10 years.
| Men | 2.5g sodium |
|---|---|
| Women | 2g sodium |