Think you’re eating too much salt? Salt undoubtedly makes food taste good, and is necessary for our bodies to function properly, but it’s easy to consume in excess. Many of us eats well over the recommended daily intake of six grams; whether it’s liberal sprinkling in your cooking and at the table, or eating processed foods, us people can’t get enough of it. It’s been linked from everything to high blood pressure to dementia, yet many are still eating far too much salt. The salt we eat, otherwise known as sodium chloride, consists of sodium, chlorine and often anti-caking agents. Sodium makes up 40 percent of salt, and is a necessary element for optimal muscle and nerve function. Sodium attracts water, so your body uses it to regulate the fluid in your blood, organs and tissues. When your body contains too much sodium, the kidneys remove it by producing more urine. Eating too much salt has long been associated with high blood pressure. It has also been linked to an increased risk of stroke, heart disease, osteoporosis and dementia. Symptoms of excess sodium include thirst, fluid retention in the face, hands, legs, ankles and feet, and headaches. In extreme cases, a person can suffer from hypernatremia, when they become too dehydrated. This can happen after vomiting, having a fever, doing too much exercise and consuming too much salt in food and drink. Look out for the following symptoms; irritability, muscle cramps, confusion, depression and vomiting. Hypernatremia can lead to brain damage if not treated quickly. Salt is even lurking in places you wouldn’t expect like cereal, tinned vegetables, ketchup, bread, cheese and blended coffee drinks! Reducing your salt intake doesn’t mean reducing on flavour – try herbs, spices, olive oil, balsamic vinegar or lemon juice to inject flavour into your dish.