Are there medical situations when the salt guideline may be inappropriate?
Yes, there are several conditions that need special consideration with respect to ensuring adequate salt intake. These include pregnancy; when diuretics are prescribed; following episodes of diarrhoea or vomiting; and in some other specific circumstances as follows. If any of these situations apply to you, check with your doctor before altering your salt intake. PREGNANCY The medical consensus is that the usual salt intake at the onset of pregnancy should be continued throughout the pregnancy, unless the expectant mother is given medical advice to change it. Women who have followed the salt guideline before they were pregnant should continue to meet the guideline. But in the absence of specific medical advice to the contrary, it is recommended that expectant mothers make no change in salt intake until after the baby is born. DIURETICS Doctors routinely prescribe diuretics for salt-related illnesses, particularly for hypertension, but also for fluid retention in all its forms (such as s
