Can pregnant women eat salt?

Yes. A pregnant woman doesn't need to cut salt out of her diet completely.

The recommendation from Brazil's Ministry of Health is to use oils, fats, salt and sugar in small amounts when preparing meals.

During pregnancy, the priority should be a varied diet, based mainly on fresh or minimally processed foods, such as rice, beans, fruits, leafy greens, vegetables, eggs and meat.

In other words: there's no need to eat unsalted food. The main care is to avoid excess.

Why isn't it good to overdo salt during pregnancy?

Salt is one of the main sources of sodium in the diet.

Sodium is necessary for the body to work, but consuming too much is associated with increased blood pressure.

That's why the Ministry of Health recommends that pregnant women use small amounts of salt when cooking and cut back mainly on very salty and ultra-processed foods.

The World Health Organization recommends that adults in general consume less than 5 grams of salt per day, equivalent to less than 2 grams of sodium. This amount includes all the salt consumed throughout the day, including what is already present in processed foods.

So do I need to measure all the salt in my food?

For most healthy pregnant women, there's no need to turn every meal into a math problem.

A more practical strategy is to:

  • use little salt when cooking;
  • avoid adding more salt to your plate without tasting first;
  • prefer food prepared at home;
  • cut back on ready-made seasonings, bouillon cubes and very salty sauces;
  • eat processed meats and other ultra-processed foods less often;
  • use garlic, onion, parsley and chives, herbs and other natural seasonings to add flavor.

A good part of the sodium in the diet may actually come from processed products, not just from the kitchen salt shaker.

Does eating salt cause preeclampsia?

It's not that simple.

Preeclampsia is a condition related to high blood pressure during pregnancy and involves several factors. There isn't enough evidence to say that simply cutting salt from the diet prevents preeclampsia.

The World Health Organization itself does not recommend restricting salt during pregnancy with the specific goal of preventing preeclampsia. At the same time, the WHO emphasizes that avoiding excessive salt intake remains part of a healthy diet.

What if the pregnant woman has high blood pressure?

Then things change.

Pregnant women with hypertension, preeclampsia or other health conditions may receive specific dietary guidance during prenatal care.

That's why it's not a good idea to severely restrict salt on your own.

Monitoring blood pressure during prenatal care is especially important because gestational hypertension and preeclampsia need to be identified and followed by health professionals.

Which foods tend to be high in sodium?

Some foods deserve attention because they can contain a lot of sodium even without tasting extremely salty.

These include:

Processed meats: ham, salami, sausages and hot dogs.

Ready-made seasonings: bouillon cubes, powdered seasonings and some processed sauces.

**Ultra-processed products in general.**

This doesn't mean that a single food will harm your pregnancy. What matters most is looking at your everyday eating pattern.

In short

Can you use salt in your food during pregnancy?

Yes.

Do you need to eat everything without salt?

No.

Is it okay to overdo it?

No again.

The guidance for a healthy pregnancy is to use small amounts of salt, prioritize real food and cut back on ultra-processed foods and foods very high in sodium.

And if there is high blood pressure, significant swelling, preeclampsia or a specific recommendation from your prenatal care, the right amount should be discussed with the professional caring for your pregnancy.

Please note

This content is for information only and does not replace prenatal care. Recommendations on sodium restriction may change depending on blood pressure, pre-existing conditions and other individual circumstances.

Sources: Brazil's Ministry of Health — Caderneta da Gestante (Pregnancy Record Booklet) and the Low-Risk Prenatal Care Pathway; World Health Organization — recommendations on healthy eating, sodium and maternal health.