When is a low salt diet "low"?

Question

I have recently been recommended a "low salt" diet - the UK goverment recommend 6 grams per day as being healthy - is this "low" ? If not - what is low? Many Thanks.

Answer 1

The recommended norm for a low salt diet is one that contains only 2 Gms /perday. Anyway that's what i learned and advise my pts. 6 Gms is too high esp if you have hypertension, cardiac or kidney prob. The body does require certain amts of salt esp during hot climates to avoid dehydration and for electrolyte balance w/ potassium but it won't hurt if you have less versus high. That's why i don't add salt per se to my cooking but i do use small amts of garlic salt for flavoring. Hope this reply helps
and if so pls vote as best answer. i don't need the points just wanna help.

Answer 2

I think 2 grams a day or less would be fine. Actually it is the ratio to sodium to potassium that may be especially relevant. Sodium carbonate would also count as salt. Potassium chloride is a salt but not of the especially unwanted kind.

80% of our salt intake may be involuntary, got from junk food e.g. white bread, cakes, biscuits, jam, even soda bread.

The other 20% may be discretionary.

Non-junk food, fruit and vegetables, would help.

Answer 3

From the Government's salt web site

This is A LOT of salt
1.25g salt or more per 100g
(0.5g sodium or more per 100g)

This is A LITTLE salt
0.25g salt or less per 100g
(0.1g sodium or less per 100g)

Answer 4

VERY LITTLE salt or lite salt but you really don't need much salt in your diet.

Answer 5

4 grams would be good, I am no doctor though.