Dr Bruce Neal (AWASH): Salt in children's diets

In this podcast, Heather Ferguson, Corporate Nutritionist with Heinz, talks to Dr Bruce Neal, Chair of the Australian Division of the World Action on Salt and Health (AWASH) about salt in children's diets. AWASH's goal is to get Australians to eat less salt and is currently working with the food industry to encourage them to reduce the salt content of their products.

The Australian National Children's Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey (1) has revealed that children between the ages of 2-16 years are eating far too much salt, more than 50% of the recommended intake. This is a concern, as high salt intakes long term can lead to high blood pressure with its harmful effects on the heart, kidney and brain.

Dr Neal discusses why it is important to keep our dietary salt intake low from early childhood; what foods are high in salt and how to recognise them; key questions health professionals can ask parents to guage how much salt their child (and family) is eating and some simple strategies to reduce children's salt intake.

Click here to download (5.8MB)

 Reference:

1. CSIRO, Preventative Health National Research Flagship, University of South Australia. 2007 Australian Nationa Children's Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey.Canberra:Government of Australia;2007