High blood pressure and salt Salt or sodium in food is a major culprit in causing high blood pressure.
Many experts think that the western diet in recent years has directly caused disease and early death for many individuals.
In stark terms, our diet in the so called developed world has changed more in the last forty years than it changed in the preceding forty thousand - and the rise and rise of processed food is contributing to untold levels of obesity and heart disease.
Do you pay close attention to how much salt or sodium you consume? Most of us don't - despite the governments best attempts to persuade us to.
High salt levels directly contribute to high blood pressure - and high blood pressure directly contributes to early death.
It's a bit of a no brainer really.
Experts believe that reducing our salt intake to less than 6g a day (and ideally less than 4g a day) will reduce blood pressure numbers by more than ten on the scale.
This could easily make the difference between having a high blood pressure or a normal blood pressure - or it might mean that you could reduce or stop your blood pressure treatment.
The first rule of course is to throw away the salt from your kitchen and your table - you'll be surprised how quickly you adapt to life without adding it.
Other places to watch - foods where salt just sneaks in without you realizing it are:

1. fast foods
2. processed foods like frozen meals or pasta sauces
3. prepared mixes
4. canned foods and canned soup
5. salty snacks
6. some processed cheese

The list could go on forever.
The main thing really is for you to become salt aware.
Check the labels.
Think about what you buy.
Think about what you are putting in your mouth before you eat it!