11/06/2026
One simple way to help manage blood pressure is by keeping an eye on how much salt we eat.
Our kidneys help control blood pressure by removing excess water from the body. When we consume too much salt, the body holds on to more water, which increases pressure in our blood vessels which can lead to high blood pressure.
🧂 Adults should aim for no more than 6g of salt per day – that's about one teaspoon.
Many people are surprised to learn that around three quarters of the salt we eat comes from everyday packaged foods, such as:
• Bread
• Breakfast cereals
• Processed meat products
• Ready meals
When checking food labels, look out for:
🔴 Red traffic light labels for salt
📊 Foods containing 15% or more of your daily salt intake per portion
🧂 More than 1.5g of salt per 100g (high salt content)
Reducing your daily salt intake by just 1 gram could help prevent around 6,000 deaths from heart attacks and strokes every year.
Small changes really can make a big difference to long-term health.
Sources: Action on Salt, NHS, The Guardian ❤️
