Is Thai Food High in Sodium?

Although Thai food is good for you, it is relatively high in sodium. I watch the Thai cooks as they prepare my meals and they usually add a small spoonful of salt.

I don’t even keep salt in my kitchen and never add it to my food. It doesn’t make enough of a difference in the taste of food to me, and I know that it’s healthier not to add it so I just go without.

But when ordering Thai food, you are at the mercy of the chef and how they liked prepare it. Unfortunately, most Thai food restaurants use salt liberally, and sugar as well, but that is another story.

I usually don’t bother asking not to have salt added to my food at Thai restaurants. It’s not that important to me. But if it’s important to you, the word for salt in Thai is “glua”. So if you say “may ow glua, kap”, that translates into “no salt, please”.

Why is Thai food salty?

Thai food blends flavors such as sweet, sour, and salty together in order to create more depth. It does add complexity to the taste, but the added salt isn’t good for you, especially if you’re watching your blood pressure.