Cut salt from your diet ‘to prevent heart disease’

LONDON - A new research has shown that heart disease could be cut by almost a fifth if food companies were banned from adding too much salt to their products.

A major study has found such laws would be 20 times more effective in improving health than offering dietary advice, reports the Daily Mail.

Experts say eating less salt, which increases blood pressure and the risk of heart disease, could prevent up to fifth of deaths.

Guidelines recommend that people eat no more than 6 grams of salt a day, although average daily consumption in the UK is 9g.

Many foods, including ready meals, pizzas and sandwiches, contain well over half the recommended daily amount in a single portion.

Researchers in Australia found that forcing companies to limit the amount of salt in their products would cut deaths from heart disease by 18 per cent.

Such restrictions might include banning ready meals from having more than 3g of salt and crisps and sandwiches more than 0.6g.

The study concluded that it was not enough to advise people on healthy eating and hope they choose to cut down on salt.

The study has been published in the journal Heart. (ANI)