Australians are eating nearly double the recommended amount.
We recommend adults eat less than 5g of salt (2000 mg of sodium) a day to reduce your risk of high blood pressure and lower the risk of heart disease. That equals about 1 teaspoon a day.
This calculator converts the sodium listed on food products into grams of salt or vice versa.
The Nutrition Information Panel on a packaged food product in Australia has a ‘per serve’ column and a ‘’per 100g’ column.
You can use the 'per 100g' column when comparing the salt contents of different foods and the ‘per serve’ column when trying to understand how much salt you have consumed
While you need to watch the salt content of some foods, it’s important to look at the food as a whole rather than deciding on one nutrient alone. Don’t forget to check the energy (kJ), sugar and saturated fat content too to make sure you are making the best choice and try to base your diet around core foods like fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts and seeds that are naturally low in salt.
Most Australians are eating more than the recommended amounts and this can cause health problems.
Follow these easy tips to boost your heart health and embrace a heart-healthy eating pattern.
Nutrition information panels and ingredients lists are a good way of comparing similar foods so you can choose the healthiest option.
Last updated20 April 2020