A nutritionist has issued a warning over a deadly ingredient in some foods, including sliced bread, breakfast cereal, salad dressings and even some vegetables. A new study led by researchers in the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences has found reducing salt in everyday foods could prevent tens of thousands of heart attacks and strokes and save the NHS over £1 billion.

This news follows a new analysis from the British Heart Foundation revealing that adults in England are consuming the equivalent of one and a half teaspoons of salt per day.

With the average adult consuming 8.4g of salt per day, 40% over the recommended 6g limit, Lily Keeling, Registered Nutritionist and Recipe Development Manager at Green Chef, shared tips to help Brits reclaim their heart health.

“Most of us know we need to limit our daily salt intake, but the real challenge lies in the hidden salt that sits in our everyday staples,” said Lily. “From the morning slice of toast to the ‘healthy’ salad dressing at lunch, sodium is often used as a cheap preservative and flavour enhancer in so many foods that you likely aren’t even aware of."

Lily said: “One of the biggest culprits is supermarket sliced bread where one slice can contain as much salt as a packet of crisps. When you have two slices for a sandwich, you’ve already had 15% of your daily sodium limit.”

“Sweet breakfast cereals can also be a serial culprit with many of them using high levels of salt to balance the sweetness. Additionally, while convenient, canned vegetables are packed with brine. A top tip here is to rinse canned veg under cold water to wash away up to 40% of the salt” Lily said.

“Low fat salad dressings are also problematic as manufacturers often add high levels of salt and sugar when they remove the fat to maintain the taste. However, the health benefits of reducing meat consumption outweighs the increase of salt in this instance, although it is healthier to limit both and choose less processed plant protein sources," Lily said.

Lily has also shared tips to keep dishes flavoursome without having to add extra salt.

“Firstly, don’t underestimate the power of acid. If a dish feels ‘flat’, it likely needs acid, not salt. A squeeze of lemon or a splash of vinegar can brighten a meal instantly,” Lily said.

“Another great tip is to toast your spices,” Lily added. “Frying spices like cumin or coriander in a dry pan for 30 seconds releases oils that provide a massive flavour kick, reducing the need for extra seasoning.”

“Finally, I advise avoiding high salt pre-made pasta sauces and stir-fry kits which are notorious salt traps. Using fresh ingredients and spices always gives you a better quality taste with controlled sodium levels.”