Excessive salt intake poses serious health risks, including hypertension and cardiovascular diseases.
Dr Chia Yook Chin, who heads the Malaysian Society for World Action on Salt, Sugar, and Health , said four out of five Malaysians consumed a staggering 7.9 grams of salt daily, which surpasses the recommended limit of under five grams. In 2013, WHO outlined a comprehensive framework of nine vital goals to combat NCDs – hypertension, heart attack, stroke and diabetes – with reducing salt consumption emerging as a key priority.
In fact, Chia emphasised that the rich array of spices and herbs found abundantly in the country was enough to infuse dishes with flavour, eliminating the need for excessive salt. “When the kidneys bear the burden of eliminating excess salt, they can be overwhelmed,” cautions Chia. “Meanwhile, the inner lining of blood vessels may endure damage, heightening the risk of blood clot formation.”
“It would be silly to suddenly stop eating the foods that you love and are used to. What you can do instead is simply reduce how often you consume such highly salted foods.”