Is chicken powder really healthier? My friend recently asked me some questions about seasoning. He has earlier noticed an advertisement claiming that “chicken powder” is better than salt for seasoning and he asked whether it is true. The American Heart Association recommends that in order to maintain a healthy heart and reduce the risk of having high blood pressure and heart disease, people should control sodium intake and reduce the consumption of high fat food. The Association recommends that adults should not absorb more than 2,400 mg of sodium (about 1 teaspoon of salt) each day. Excessive intake of sodium will also increase the risk of having oedema and kidney disease. Some commonly used Seasonings such as salt, chicken powder, soy sauce, oyster sauce and fish sauce are sources of sodium. Regardless of the type of seasoning, people should carefully control the amount used. If people use Seasonings other than salt, they should exchange the appropriate amount as follows: A person should not consume more than 800 mg of sodium per meal, which is equivalent to: 1 / 3 teaspoon of salt, 1 tablespoon of soy sauce, 1 teaspoon of chicken powder, 2 teaspoons of fish sauce or 1.5 tablespoons of oyster sauce. Remember not to “add too many different types of Seasonings at the same time”. During cooking, people may choose Ingredients or Seasonings which have low sodium content such as ginger, green onion, garlic, pepper, vinegar, wine, herbs (such as coriander, rosemary and basil leaves), chili, onion and curry powder. They may also marinate meat by using orange, apple or lemon juice to make delicious dishes. Overall, we should control the amount of seasoning used to maintain a healthy diet, no matter what type of seasoning is used. Author: Ms. Sylvia LAM, Chairman of the Hong Kong Dietitians Association and an Australia Registered Dietitian