Cutting Back on Salt for Healthier Lifestyle
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19 February 2022 10:06 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Most Indonesians love flavorful food, ones that are savory and salty. But too much sodium chloride a.k.a. salt in the diet can lead to health problems from obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke.
"To maintain a healthy lifestyle, limiting salt intake is as important as eating fruits and vegetables," said Johanes Chandrawinata, dietitian and clinical nutritionist.
Speaking at a web seminar on February 15, Johanes said that we can lower salt intake by choosing menus that are low in salt or even contain no sodium.
He suggested avoiding processed foods that are very high in salts such as smoked meat or corned beef. "Focus on fresh foods."
Adding aromatic spices and herbs like garlic and ginger can be an alternative to salt in terms of adding flavor to your dish.
"Also limit yourself from eating too much krupuk as we sometimes don’t realize that it is packed with salt," he said.
Johanes said that a low-salt diet can lower blood pressure. "Cutting back on salt by 15 percent can prevent up to 8.5 million deaths in 23 countries with high blood pressure burden over 10 years," he said.
Read: Expert: Cut Down Sugar, Fat, and Salt for Better Immune System
Antara | Graven (Intern)
