The Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa HSFSA has raised concerns about the health risks associated with high salt consumption as Salt Awareness Week is marked globally.
This year's campaign aligns with the World Action on Salt, Sugar and Health WASSH under the theme 5 Ways to 5 Grams, which focuses on reducing daily salt intake to five grams as a strategy to improve heart and brain health.
HSFSA CEO, Professor Pamela Naidoo, says the public needs to be aware of the health dangers posed by both naturally occurring and added salt in food.
Naidoo says, "So, World Salt Awareness Week is a global campaign to raise awareness on the dangers of excessive salt consumption because people dont realize that in your food, you naturally have salt and then they add discretionary salt, like your table salt, and that leads to heart disease and strokes and other problems like kidney disorders."
The Foundation continues to promote education around healthy eating habits to prevent non-communicable diseases linked to high blood pressure and related conditions.