Salty diets linked to heart disease

A diet high in salt can be linked to increased risk of stroke and cardiovascular disease, according to a new report.

Research published in the British Medical Journal found that habitual intake of salt exceeding 10g per day can be harmful for the heart.

The study revealed that reducing salt consumption by 5g cut stroke occurrence by 23 per cent and cardiovascular disease by 17 per cent.

Professor Francesco Cappuccio, head of the World Health Organisation Collaboration Centre at Warwick Medical School, said: "We have seen reductions in the salt content of several food items, due to the collaboration between governments, public health bodies and sectors of the industry on a voluntary basis.

"However, the progress towards the recommended targets has been slow."

He called for further health campaigns promoting the benefits of a low-salt diet and a more strict regulatory code for salt content in food products.

The World Health Organisation above states that 62 per cent of all strokes and almost half of coronary heart disease events are caused by high blood pressure.

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