Cutting down your salt intake

In the UK we eat double the amount of salt we should.

Too much salt is potentially harmful for our blood pressure and so we need to cut down the amounts we consume.

Things are getting better: as a nation we are now adding less salt to our food at the dinner table. The next target is high-salt processed foods.

June Davison is a Cardiac Nurse with the British Heart Foundation, "What is really worrying is that about 75% of our salt intake comes from processed foods and the only way of knowing how much salt there is in food is to actually look at the food labels. It tends to be the things like ready meals, packet soups, noodles and sauces which tend to be loaded with them."

Other offenders include pasties and pies which are also amongst the nation’s favourite foods.

June Davison says it’s a huge challenge, "I think the message that needs to be got across is that its not about going on a quick fix or a diet as such, it’s about trying to instil healthy eating habits generally and from a young age and perhaps encouraging people to cook from basic ingredients rather than going out and buying a pre-prepared ready meal."

Tips and advice on a healthier diet

The Government recommends our daily intake of salt should be 6 grams – more than this is not good for your blood pressure. In the UK we are currently consuming 10 grams of salt a day - The British Heart Foundation says there’s evidence to suggest we probably need nearer 3 or 4 grams.

For further information and advice go to www.bhf.org.uk