NEW WARNING OVER 'HIDDEN' DANGER OF SALT IN DIET

Millions of adults eating 40% more than the recommended 6g a day

- BY HANNA GEISSLER

MILLIONS of us are risking our health by eating too much salt.

The average workingage Brit has as much as there is in 155 packets of crisps every week.

But most of it is "hidden" in everyday foods such as bread, cereals and ready meals, making it hard to keep track recommended The daily limit is 6g - but the typical intake is 40% higher at 8.4g, according to British Heart Foundation analysis.

The 2.4g difference is equivalent to eating an extra six packets of ready salted crisps per day, the charity said.

Dell Stanford of the BHF said: "This is bad news for our heart health, as eating too much salt significantly increases the risk of high blood pressure - a major cause of heart attacks, strokes, and other serious diseases.”

Salt contains sodium, which plays a key role in regulating fluid balance in the body.

Eating too much of it can cause extra water to be drawn into the bloodstream, leading to high blood pressure.

Over time, this can put strain on the heart and blood vessels, increasing the risk of problems such as heart attack, stroke and vascular dementia.

Around a third of adults in England have high blood pressure, but many of them are undiagnosed or untreated, said Professor Azeem Majeed, head of the department of primary care and public health at Imperial College London.