Salt Awareness Week

NHS Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale and volunteers raise awareness of salt

Many people are aware that salt can damage their health, but do not know it is linked to serious health conditions such as stroke, heart disease, osteoporosis, stomach cancer, obesity and kidney disease which can affect anyone.

NHS Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale and the Healthy Communities Collaborative are reminding people about how too much salt can damage your health, as part of National Salt Awareness Week this week.

Gill Murphy, Cardiovascular Disease Project Manager, said: “We are aware that salt is associated with health problems such as high blood pressure but many people think eating too much salt will not affect them and that they don’t need to cut down on how much they eat. It is important for everyone to reduce the amount of salt in their diet by making simple changes such as reading the labels of foods, choosing lower salt ingredients and not adding salt during cooking or at the table.”

Tips for keeping check of your salt intake:

1. Compare the labels on different types of bread and choose th ones lower in salt. Supermarket own-label bread is often lower. 
2. Switch to breakfast cereals with no added salt, such as shredded wholegrain wheat cereals, some muesli or home-made porridge. Or compare the labels on your favourite cereals and choose the ones lower in salt. 
3. Go for tinned veg and pulses without added salt. 
4. For healthier snacks try to choose fruit or vegetables like carrot or celery sticks, a teacake or a fruit bun. If you are going to have crisps or crackers, check the label and choose the ones lower in salt. 
5. Try not to add salt automatically when you're cooking or about to eat. Often people only use salt out of habit. 
6. Marinate meat and fish in advance to give them more flavour. 
7. Make your own stock and gravy, instead of using cubes or granules, or look out for reduced-salt products. 
8. Use black pepper as seasoning on pasta, scrambled egg, tomatoes etc. instead of salt.
9. Taste your food when eating out before adding salt automatically – chefs will have seasoned the dish already, so you shouldn't need to add more. 
10. Add fresh herbs to pasta dishes, vegetables and meat for more flavour.