Key Summary
- People in the UK are eating far too much hidden salt, often without realising
- Too much salt raises blood pressure and increases risk of heart disease and stroke
- Experts want the government to push food companies to cut salt to keep people healthier
A study by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) has found that Britons are eating 40 percent more salt than recommended limits, and this can expose them to ailments like blood pressure, stroke and heart disease.
The BHF study found that working-age adults in England are eating the same amount of salt each week as contained in 155 packets of crisps.
This means an individual consumes an average of six packets of crisps a day, with a daily salt intake of 8.4g.
This is 40 per cent higher than the government’s recommendation of 6g.
Salt contains sodium, which plays a role in regulating fluid balance in the body.
However, excessive consumption can draw an unnecessary amount of water into the bloodstream and raise the blood volume.
This will lead to high blood pressure, which can potentially burden the heart and blood vessels, increasing the chances of heart attack, stroke, heart failure, vascular dementia, etc.
The BHF has urged the government to take immediate action to mitigate this unhealthy practice of the masses.
A new poll conducted alongside YouGov, involving more than 2,000 people, found that nearly 56 percent of them are not confident about their daily salt intake.
Only 16 per cent of the participants match the minimum 6 per cent salt limit set by the government.
The remaining participants were either unaware or confused about the minimum salt levels.
BHF senior dietitian, Dell Stanford said: “Most of the salt we eat is hidden in the food we buy such as bread, cereals, pre-made sauces and ready meals, so it’s often hard to know exactly how much salt we’re consuming.”
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), if Britons achieve the ideal salt levels by 2030, it could save 135,000 people from suffering from coronary heart disease for the next 14 years.
The BHF is urging the government to ensure that the reduction of salt intake is included in its upcoming Healthy Food Standard.
Stanford emphasised that, “The Government must step in to make the healthy choice much easier for families by giving manufacturers an incentive to take out excessive amounts of salt from our food.”
