Brits still don't know why they should cut the salt
1st February 2010 (Salt Awareness Week 2010)
- People don’t know that eating less salt reduces the risk of stroke and heart failure, and are even less aware salt is linked to stomach cancer, osteoporosis and kidney disease.
- The people most at risk of these conditions appear to know the least
New research published today by Consensus Action on Salt and Health (CASH) shows that while 9 out of 10 people are aware that salt can damage their health, they do not why. Two thirds of the UK population are aware that salt is linked to high blood pressure, but only one third made the link to stroke. Even less people are aware that salt can lead to stomach cancer (6%), osteoporosis (4%) and kidney disease (27%).
Salt Awareness Week 2010 is letting people know that salt can cause a large number of health conditions, and will show that we are all putting our health at risk if we eat too much salt. Although older people are more at risk of many of the highlighted conditions, particularly high blood pressure, stroke, heart disease and osteoporosis, it is important that children and parents are also aware of the effects of too much salt. Blood pressure starts to increase from a young age, therefore a high salt diet as a child will increase the risk of a range of health conditions later in life.
Click here for press release (Word)
Click here for public survey results (Excel)
Click here for public survey report (PDF)
Click here for events going on around the UK
Please click on the below links for further information on each of the health conditions
Salt and Blood Pressure
Salt and Kidney Disease and Kidney Stones
Salt and Obesity
Salt and Osteoporosis
Salt and Other Conditions (Meniere's disease, asthma, diabetes)
Salt and Stomach Cancer
Salt and Stroke and Heart disease