Читать книгу Safe Food: What to eat and drink in pregnancy - Rosie Dodds - Страница 59

Most of us eat more salt than we need. Processed foods – such as ham, cheese, bread, baked beans and biscuits – all contain lots of salt. Savoury spreads (like yeast extract and beef extract), crisps, olives and salted nuts are obviously salty foods. In the long term, too much salt in your diet may contribute to high blood pressure and related health problems later in your life.

During pregnancy, however, the situation is more complicated. Restricting your salt intake at this time has not been shown to reduce the risk of high blood pressure during pregnancy. But this does not mean that you should add extra salt to your food. Use salt to flavour your food, as you would normally.

When you have had your baby, you can try reducing the amount of salt you use in cooking and on your food. This will help when your baby starts taking solid food, since babies should not have any salt at all added to their food.

There is no proof that cutting your salt intake during pregnancy will reduce swollen ankles. Similarly, there is no proof that leg cramps during pregnancy are caused by a lack of salt or of any other minerals.