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Salt and health

Salt & Iodine

Salt, or sodium chloride, is an essential nutrient; it’s one of the basic tastes we have as a human. Our body can’t produce the sodium and chlorine that are in salt, yet these components are essential to keep it healthy. Salt plays a vital role in the regulation of many bodily functions and is contained in body fluids that transport oxygen and nutrients. Sodium is also essential in maintaining the body’s overall fluid balance.

In the Netherlands, NEZO with iodine is the most iodized item in the market, since regulations were set for reducing the iodine quantity in bread in 2009. Combined with the trend of diets advizing to consume less bread, the intake of iodine becomes more and more important.

Salt reduction

World wide, the salt intake is under discussion. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that adults consume less than 5 g (just under a teaspoon) of salt per day.

Sodium is an essential nutrient necessary for maintenance of plasma volume, acid-base balance, transmission of nerve impulses and normal cell function. Excess sodium is linked to adverse health outcomes, including increased blood pressure. More information here.

Sodium is found naturally in a variety of foods, such as milk, meat and shellfish. It is often found in high amounts in processed foods such as breads, processed meat and meals and snack foods, as well as in condiments (e.g. soy source, fish source). NEZO recommends consumers to use just the right amount of salt to get the best out of the flavors of your meal.

For those consumers really looking for options to also reduce their own salt intake NEZO has Low Sodium Salt in its portfolio, recognized by its green packaging. NEZO Low Sodium has reduced sodium salt by 70% and has replaced this by potassium salt.