Can I eat out and still watch my sodium levels?
ST asks experts how consumers can avoid the sodium trap.
Singaporeans are consuming an excessive amount of sodium in their diets, with the average daily intake rising from 3,480mg in 2019 to 4,000mg in 2025. This is twice the daily recommended limit of 2,000mg. A survey found that 95% of respondents exceeded the daily sodium limit in 2025, up from 88% in 2019. The increase in sodium consumption is largely attributed to people eating out more frequently, with seven in 10 Singaporeans eating out at least once a day.
Some popular dishes are particularly high in sodium, with a serving of mala xiang guo containing 3,100mg of sodium and a single serving of tomato hot pot containing up to 4,900mg. Dietitians advise that excessive sodium intake can lead to high blood pressure, kidney disease, osteoporosis, and an increased risk of stomach cancer.
They recommend ordering dishes with less sauce, gravy, or sambal, choosing outlets that use lower-sodium ingredients, and incorporating more vegetables into meals.
Written by urgent.news from Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
