Call to county’s residents to eat less salt

We are urging the county’s residents to look for hidden salt in their food to try and reduce the amount of sodium in their diet. The message coincides with National Salt Awareness Week which starts today (Monday, February 29) and runs until Sunday, March 6.

The national awareness drive, which is organised by the Consensus Action on Salt & Health (CASH), aims to encourage people to eat less salt and raise awareness of the dangers that eating too much can have on our health.

Although the recommended daily allowance of salt is 6g, evidence shows that people consume on average 8.1g of salt every day. Regularly eating too much salt can increase the risk of developing high blood pressure, which in turn can lead to serious health conditions such as heart disease, heart attacks, strokes, and kidney failure.

Karen Davies, dietitian here at Live Well Suffolk said: “Recently it’s the amount of hidden sugar in food and drink that has been dominating the headlines, but actually lots of food has hidden salt in it too which also poses a big health risk. Processed meats, ready meals, bread and cereals contain very high levels of salt which people don’t realise.

“There are a few simple steps everyone can take to try to reduce the amount of salt in their diet, for example, not adding salt when cooking, but using herbs and spices instead. Limiting the amount of processed meats you’re eating can also help to reduce sodium intake, and it’s good to get in the habit of comparing food labels and choosing items with the least amount of salt in. There are also some foods, such as baked beans, which offer ‘low’ or ‘reduced salt’ ranges.”

People are being encouraged to get involved in Salt Awareness Week using #EatLessSalt. For more information about and advice on healthy eating, click here.