With rates of heart disease, diabetes and stroke still rising, NHS Tameside and Glossop is joining with Action on Salt to promote Salt Awareness Week, and make sure local people are taking all the facts about salt to the table.
Salt Awareness Week runs from 1st - 7th February, with the message that people should reduce their salt intake. A diet high in salt increases the risk of ill health, contributing to a range of conditions, with high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease, osteoporosis, stomach cancer and diabetes to name just a few. Many people are unaware of the risks salt poses, and are often unaware of the high salt content in the food that they buy.
We can survive on as little as three grams of salt a day. The current government recommendation is to eat a maximum of six grams a day, which is equivalent to one teaspoon of salt. Fast food often has a particularly high content, and adding extra salt to food which already contains it isn’t necessary.
When cooking, a variety of alternatives can be used instead of salt, including herbs, spices, onions and chillies. Choosing foods like fresh fruits and vegetables when eating out, asking that foods be prepared without added salt, and reading the nutrition label of foods before purchasing can improve health and reduce risks for all the family.
Lisa Jowitt, Health Improvement manager says “The message is for people to monitor their salt intake, and simply eat less salt. Most of the salt we eat comes from packaged, processed and restaurant foods. People who reduce their salt consumption benefit from improved blood pressure and reduce their risk for developing other serious health problems.
The NHS Health Improvement Service offers free Weight Matters courses in all areas of Tameside and Glossop, which are all about choosing a healthy, balanced diet. It can be difficult to understand labels and what the daily allowances mean so we cover this in one of our sessions - but we try and make it fun! Over 82% of people who come on our courses lose weight as well as finding out more about what they're eating.”
To find your nearest Weight Matters course, phone our booking service on 0845 053 3302.