Cut out the salt during summer

Dr Bruce Neal , chair of the Australian Division of World Action on Salt and Health (AWASH), says it’s a myth that we lose more salt during the hot weather and therefore need to eat more.

“We only lose a small amount of salt through sweating even during the very hottest days in summer. So there is no need to eat more salt. However, I do recommend that you drink plenty of water to keep your body hydrated.”

Dr Neal says Australians typically eat a lot more salt than they need – about 9 grams per day when the recommended National Heart Foundation standards say people should aim to eat less than 6 grams (equivalent to around a teaspoon).

“When you sweat, your body regulates the amount of salt that is lost. The body has a remarkable ability to maintain sodium and water balance in different conditions. If salt is excreted in sweat this means that it is excess to functional requirements and it does not need to be replaced.

“There is strong evidence that the sodium in salt raises blood pressure which is not good for your health. Salt is made up of sodium and chloride and it is the sodium portion that contributes to high blood pressure.

“These are the health concerns that we are addressing with the Australian food industry and consumers in our Drop the Salt! campaign.”