What is a low salt diet?
You may have been told by your medical team that you need to follow a low salt diet.
But, what is a low salt diet? Let’s start with the basics!
This short video provides basic information about salt (sodium). It covers:
- What happens to sodium when the kidneys aren't working well.
- How to reduce your intake of salt.
- Reading food labels.
What is salt?
Salt is made up of two minerals; sodium and chloride. Sodium is a special type of mineral called an electrolyte. Electrolytes such as sodium help keep things in balance in the body.
Sodium plays a special role in the body, it:
- Controls the amount of water.
- Helps with muscle movement.
- Helps us to use other nutrients from the food we eat.
However, the body only needs a little bit of sodium or salt from food in order to do these things.
Why is it important to reduce the amount of salt that I eat if my kidneys aren’t working well?
Our bodies don’t need very much salt and lots of foods have salt in them. When the kidneys aren't working very well, it is hard to get rid of the extra sodium that we have eaten. Too much sodium also makes the heart work harder – it can lead to high blood pressure (also known as hypertension). Some people keep extra water (fluid) in their body when they eat too much salt. This can cause parts of their body to swell up, such as their ankles.
How do I get the right amount of salt?
It is recommended that adults have no more than 5g of salt per day - this is under 1 teaspoon per day. Children should have even less than this.
What foods are high in salt?
Try to limit the following foods as they are known to be high in salt:
- Salty snack foods such as crisps and salted crackers
- Bacon and cured meats
- Smoked meat and fish
- Condiments like soy sauce and ketchup
- Sausage rolls
- Pickles
- Tinned and processed foods
- Cheese
- Takeaway foods
- Gravy granules
- Processed products made with potato such as waffles and potato faces
It’s important to learn how to find the words “salt” or “sodium” on food labels. The picture
below shows a food label and how to spot if a food contains salt. Some food labels will use
a traffic light system to show if a food is high or low in salt, with red being high and green
being low in salt.
How can I still eat a healthy diet?
Eating a diet with a whole variety of foods is best. Try to eat more fresh foods that come from plants, like fruits and vegetables. Try to make more homemade meals and avoid using packaged and convenience foods. Ask your parents or carers if they will show you how to make some of your favourite meals using fresh ingredients - try preparing some fruit or vegetables for the family meal or learn to cook simple meals with only a few ingredients.
It is important to speak to your healthcare professional about your diet and which foods and drinks are suitable for you.
