A charity is urging people in the UK to reduce their consumption of ham, bacon, and cheese to lower their salt intake and decrease the risk of heart attacks and strokes. High salt intake contributes to high blood pressure, which is the leading cause of preventable deaths in the country. Blood Pressure UK estimates that up to 4 million Britons may have undiagnosed high blood pressure.
High blood pressure is a significant health concern because it often has no visible symptoms. Many people remain unaware of their condition unless they undergo a checkup or experience a serious health issue, such as a heart attack.
Phil Pyatt, the charity’s chief executive, emphasized the impact of salt on health, stating, “It’s hard to believe a little bit of salt can have such an impact on our health, especially when it risks raising our blood pressure.” He encouraged adults of all ages to monitor their blood pressure and improve their health through dietary and lifestyle changes, such as reducing salt intake, eating more fruits and vegetables, and increasing physical activity.
The NHS recommends a daily salt limit of no more than 6 grams. While average salt intake in the UK decreased from over 9 grams to about 8 grams in the 2000s, it has remained largely unchanged since then. In 2014, treating high blood pressure cost the NHS in England over £2 billion.
For bacon lovers, the news is concerning. Blood Pressure UK reports that there is typically about 3 grams of salt in every 100 grams of bacon. Morrison’s smoked streaky bacon contains nearly double that amount, at 5.6 grams. The charity noted that a two-rasher bacon bap with ketchup could account for a third of the daily salt limit. Adding two more rashers would bring the total to half of the recommended salt limit in just one meal.
To help reduce salt intake, the charity advises people to avoid adding salt at the table, steer clear of stock cubes, gravy, and soy sauce, and limit processed foods.
The estimate of 4 million undiagnosed high blood pressure cases aligns with NHS England data and research from the Office for National Statistics, which found that 32% of adults in England have high blood pressure, with 29% of these cases remaining undetected.
NHS England is launching a new initiative that offers blood pressure checks during dental care or eye tests to help identify undiagnosed hypertension. Over the past year, pharmacies have provided more than 1 million blood pressure checks.
Globally, around 1.28 billion adults have hypertension, with 80% of cases poorly controlled.
