HEALTH guidelines on salt intake are too low and may increase the risk of a fatal heart attack, the former president of the World Heart Federation warns.
Professor Salim Yusuf, a world leading expert on heart health, overturned conventional wisdom on salt consumption that says eating too much is a serious health risk.
Instead he said there was a risk from following current health advice, and he would recommend consuming more than the current maximum guidelines.
His comments come as a new report is published in the European Heart Journal by the joint working group of the World Heart Federation, the European Society of Hypertension and the European Public Health Association which also emphasised the potential dangers of lowering intake too much.
Calling for more research into the effects of recommended levels, the paper said reducing intake to the current recommended level and below had an “uncertain” effect on heart disease and death.
He warned reducing salt intake to too low a level undermines the body’s natural balance.
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Professor Yusuf said that increasing salt intake could prevent heart attacks and heart failure
However Alison Tedstone, chief nutritionist at Public Health England, which sets the recommended salt levels, insisted reducing salt consumption helps lower blood pressure, which reduces the risk of heart disease and stroke.
She said: “We are still eating a third more than we should. That’s why industry needs to continue to reduce salt in everyday foods.”
Source:express.co.uk