Foods high in Sodium
Mineral mostly consumed as salt (sodium chloride). Excess raises blood pressure in salt-sensitive people.
About Sodium
Sodium controls fluid balance, nerve transmission, and muscle function. The body needs only small amounts, under 500 mg/day for survival, but modern diets supply many times that, mostly from processed and restaurant foods rather than the salt added during cooking or at the table.
About 75% of sodium intake in UK diets comes from packaged foods: bread, processed meat, ready meals, sauces, and savoury snacks. Cooking from raw ingredients is the single most effective lever for cutting intake.
UK guidance: under 2.4 g of sodium per day (6 g of salt). High sodium intake raises blood pressure in salt-sensitive people (a large fraction of adults), increasing stroke and heart-disease risk.
Top food sources of Sodium
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Common questions about Sodium
- How much sodium should I have?
- UK guidance: under 2.4 g of sodium per day (6 g of salt). Most UK adults exceed this.
- Where does most of my sodium come from?
- About 75% from packaged foods, bread, processed meat, ready meals, sauces, savoury snacks. Salt added at the table or in cooking is a smaller share.
- Why should I limit sodium?
- High sodium raises blood pressure in salt-sensitive people, increasing stroke and heart-disease risk. Salt sensitivity varies widely between individuals.
- Is sea salt healthier than table salt?
- No. The sodium content is essentially the same. Sea salt contains trace minerals but the amounts are nutritionally insignificant.