A small reduction in the salt content of everyday foods such as bread, ready-made and quick meals can significantly improve cardiovascular health. This conclusion was reached by a group of researchers after analyzing programs to reduce sodium consumption in mass food. Their findings were published in the journal Hypertension.

As per the respective modeling study, even minimal changes in the recipes of popular foods lead to a decrease in average blood pressure levels in the population. Moreover, people do not need to change their eating habits or consciously limit their salt intake; the beneficial effect is achieved through the composition of food.

In the long term, such measures can prevent many cases of heart attacks and strokes, as well as reduce deaths from cardiovascular diseases.

Although the benefits for an individual may seem modest, they become considerably important on a societal scale.

The researchers highlighted that gradually reducing salt in processed foods is one of the most effective and realistic ways to reduce the burden on the healthcare system and the prevalence of heart disease—and without putting pressure on consumers.