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Even if you don’t add salt to your food, you may still be eating too
much. About three-quarters of the salt we eat is already in the food we
buy, such as breakfast cereals, soups, breads and sauces. Eating too
much salt can raise your blood pressure. People with high blood
pressure are more likely to develop heart disease or have a stroke.
Use food labels to help you cut down. More than 1.5g of salt per 100g
means the food is high in salt. Adults and children over 11 should eat
no more than 6g of salt a day. Younger children should have even less
Get active and be a healthy weight
Eating a healthy, balanced diet plays an essential role in maintaining a
healthy weight, which is an important part of overall good health. Being
overweight or obese can lead to health conditions such as type 2
diabetes, certain cancers, heart disease and stroke. Being underweight
could also affect your health. Most adults need to lose weight, and
need to eat fewer calories in order to do this. If you're trying to lose
weight, aim to eat less and be more active. Eating a healthy, balanced
diet will help: aim to cut down on foods that are high in fat and sugar,
and eat plenty of fruit and vegetables.
Don't forget that alcohol is also high in calories, so cutting down can
help you to control your weight. If you're worried about your weight,
ask your GP or a dietitian for advice.
Physical activity can help you to maintain weight loss or be a healthy
weight. Being active doesn’t have to mean hours at the gym: you can
find ways to fit more activity into your daily life. For example, try
getting off the bus one stop early on the way home from work, and
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