Dietitian warns Ghanaians to cut salt as high blood pressure cases soar

By Solomon Nartey Tetteh

Registered Dietitian, Stephanie Onyame, has cautioned Ghanaians to cut down on salt consumption, warning that excessive sodium intake is fuelling rising cases of high blood pressure, kidney disease and other health complications.

The situation mirrors global trends. The Ghana Health Service (GHS) estimates that hypertension affects more than one in four adults, with many cases linked to high sodium intake and poor dietary habits.

Public health experts warn that hidden sources of sodium, including seasoning cubes, processed meats, canned foods and restaurant meals, make it easy for people to exceed the safe daily limit without realising it.

Speaking on Zed Wellness Link on ZED 101.9FM, Ms Onyame explained that the recommended daily limit for salt intake is one teaspoon, approximately five grams.

However, many people unknowingly exceed this limit, largely because salt is present not only in home-cooked meals but also in processed foods.

 “Foods like seasoning cubes, canned fish, corned beef and tomato paste already contain high levels of sodium. When you add more salt on top of that, your intake quickly exceeds the safe limit,” she said.

Ms Onyame further noted that everyday eating habits, such as adding salt to porridge, fried plantain, beans, rice, eggs, vegetables and even gari, significantly increase daily sodium intake.

“We often wonder why blood pressure is rising or why many people are developing chronic kidney disease. The truth is, we do not always know how much salt we are consuming. Many of us eat mainly for taste, but we should be eating for nutrition and health,” Ms Onyame added. She also urged the public to be more mindful of hidden sources of sodium in meals and stressed that while the body needs small amounts of salt to function properly, excessive intake places dangerous strain on vital organs.