Health
benefits

Where is the sodium hiding?

80% of the sodium consumed by humans comes from the food industry (this is called “hidden consumption”). On the other hand, only 20% of the sodium consumed comes from the addition of salt during cooking and consumption or from the food itself. For an adult, the main sources of sodium are: cereals and cereal products (mainly bread). This is followed by meat and meat products (bacon and ham first). And finally, cheeses, sauces, dressings, soups and condiments (pickles for example).

What are the effects of sodium?

Sodium consumption is necessary for a good balance of fluids in our body. On the other hand, excessive consumption can lead to serious illnesses. Indeed, an excessive use of sodium increases blood pressure, which is itself the leading cause of cardiovascular disease, such as stroke and heart attacks.

What is the recommended sodium intake?

The recommended daily intake of sodium is about 2 grams per day (i.e. 5 grams of table salt = 5 pinches = 1 level teaspoon). However, the average daily consumption is 2x higher.

What is the impact of sodium on cardiovascular diseases?

Of the 57 million deaths worldwide in 2008, 17 million were due to cardiovascular disease (30%). And the forecasts are worrying: 25 million in 2030. Excessive sodium consumption is the leading cause of high blood pressure, which is itself the leading cause of cardiovascular disease.

The World Health Organization estimates that these figures could be reduced by half through appropriate prevention. And it is sodium reduction that is at the heart of this global prevention strategy.

WHO Member States have decided to reduce the salt consumption of the world’s population by 30% by 2025.

What is the impact of sodium on obesity?

Ingesting foods high in salt causes thirst. To quench it, people will tend to increase their consumption of water or other drinks. Although drinking water does not increase calorie consumption, drinking soft drinks will have a negative impact on your weight.

In addition, high salt consumption causes your body to retain water (1g of sodium in your body retains 100ml of water). This makes weight loss more difficult (it is the low salt consumption that causes water to be expelled). In this respect, it is interesting to note that many diets promising rapid weight loss are based on foods with little or no salt content.