Clinical studies have confirmed that excessive salt intake can increase the risk of developing diseases such as hypertension and stomach problems. The "Dietary Guidelines for Chinese Residents" recommend that daily salt intake should be less than 6 grams (1 gram of salt = 400 milligrams of sodium). The following six types of food contain a significant amount of "hidden salt," so you should be more mindful of your intake of them.
1. Condiments Condiments such as broad bean paste, chili sauce, soy sauce, salt and pepper paste, shrimp paste, fish sauce, fermented bean curd, MSG, and chicken powder are all high in salt. Pay attention to controlling the amount used when cooking.
2. Snack Foods The sodium content in snacks like salted biscuits, crackers, and puffed snacks cannot be ignored. Some biscuits contain as much as 670 milligrams of sodium per 100 grams, which means eating a bag of biscuits (100 grams) would account for about one-third of your daily salt requirement.
3. Meat Products Smoked, pickled, and processed meat products such as beef jerky, dried pork floss, cured meat, cured fish, ham, luncheon meat, Chinese sausage, ham sausage, and shredded squid are all extremely high in salt.
4. Pickled Vegetables Pickled vegetables like preserved mustard tuber, turnip, dried plum, dried radish, kimchi, olives, preserved plums, bamboo shoots, and sauerkraut contain even higher levels of salt. If not controlled, they can further increase your risk of illness.
5. Breakfast Cereals A survey found that half of the 14 breakfast cereal varieties on the market meet the UK's high salt standard. It is recommended to always check the nutritional information table when purchasing, as some brands have sodium levels that are more than 10 times higher than others.
6. Cold Noodles Many cold noodles on the market have baking soda added to increase their elasticity. Baking soda is high in sodium, and sesame paste itself is also very high in sodium. As a result, eating one bowl of cold noodles can provide half of your daily sodium intake.