Another long-standing health issue among Thai people is the consumption of food or seasonings that contain excessive sodium. Although sodium is an essential mineral for the body, helping to maintain water balance and blood pressure, excessive sodium intake can affect long-term health and cause various diseases.
How much sodium does the body need daily?
Each day, the body should receive an appropriate amount of sodium, which should not exceed 1500-2,000 milligrams or no more than 1 teaspoon of salt, equivalent to no more than 4 teaspoons of fish sauce. Consuming too much salty food or receiving excessive sodium from food can affect the body and cause various diseases such as high blood pressure, kidney disease, heart disease, and blood vessel diseases.
In which types of food is sodium found?
Normally, the body receives sodium from salt used in cooking. However, beyond salt, sodium is also hidden in many types of food that we might not expect, including…
- Various seasonings such as fish sauce, soy sauce, shrimp paste, oyster sauce, fermented fish, instant soup, monosodium glutamate (MSG), or almost all types of seasonings
- Processed foods, such as factory-produced foods including ready-to-eat foods, semi-processed foods, canned foods, fermented foods, crispy snacks, and various processed meats
- Snacks that use baking powder as an ingredient, such as bakery products, because baking powder contains a high amount of sodium
- Electrolyte drinks popular among athletes; drinking more than the recommended amount can lead to excessive sodium intake
- Freshly squeezed or processed fruit juices sold in the market, which often have added salt or other seasoning ingredients containing sodium
Guidelines for adjusting behavior to reduce salty and sodium intake
- Choose to eat fresh, natural foods. If cooking, use the least amount of seasoning or choose low-sodium types
- Avoid adding monosodium glutamate (MSG)
- Avoid eating fermented foods, processed foods, semi-processed foods, canned foods, crispy snacks, and all kinds of bakery products
- Reduce the use of seasoning sauces or dipping sauces when eating
- Adjust eating habits to prefer blander tastes to reduce seasoning additions
- Read nutrition labels before buying or eating, especially to check the sodium content in the food
Reducing salty food consumption effectively means adjusting eating behavior appropriately, focusing on eating foods beneficial to the body, and avoiding overly strong or salty flavors. Eating salty food affects kidney function, which is the main cause of kidney disease. Equally important is regular health check-ups to screen for abnormalities. If any risks or lesions are found, doctors can advise on behavior changes that cause diseases or promptly provide targeted treatment before the disease progresses into a chronic condition that is difficult to treat.
Dr. Thitiwut Hu
General Practice Specialist
Health Promotion Center, Phyathai Nawamin Hospital
