Taking life with a metaphorical pinch of salt may lead to a happier existence but scientists have found that the literal over-interpretation of this optimistic saying can only lead to heart disease.
All over the world, people are consuming more salt than the daily five grams recommended by the World Health Organisation. This translates into a higher risk of heart disease and stroke.
Cutting people's salt intake by one teaspoon a day could save about four million lives worldwide every year, researchers, quoted by the Press Association, said. Almost three million deaths from heart disease could be prevented and more than a million deaths from stroke could also be avoided.
In an effort to ensure people live longer, health experts from around Europe came together in Malta this week for a two-day conference to share their experiences on salt reduction.
Members of the European Salt Action Network will be drawing up recommendations for action to be taken.
Malta, which is part of the network, was not spared the consequences of high salt consumption levels, the Parliamentary Secretary for Health, Joseph Cassar said.
The 2008 health interview survey found that 17 per cent of Maltese suffered from high blood pressure. Salt, obesity, genetics and age are among the main risk factors leading to this condition. High levels of salt are closely related to Malta's obesity problem, which can be tackled through lower consumption.
"It is of utmost importance to work together on projects such as these (the conference) to reduce the growing rate of such conditions and ensure a healthy future generation," Dr Cassar said.
A survey carried out by the Health Department in 2002 found 47 per cent of Maltese used salt when cooking and another 24 per cent added it to flavour their food.
Health Promotion director Charmaine Gauci urged the public to cut down on their salt intake, especially because many foods already had a high ratio of salt.
"We're not just referring to food where the salt is obvious, like salted peanuts... People need to learn to control their salt while they cook and take personal responsibility of what they eat," she said.
Processed foods such as bacon, ham, cheese, sausages, packed soups, savoury snack foods, sauces and stock cubes have a higher salt content than others. Fresh meat and fish, fruits and vegetables, pasta, rice and plain cottage cheese are lower in salt content.
Researchers from the UK and Italy recently reviewed 13 studies involving more than 170,000 people and found a direct link between salt and the risk of stroke or heart disease, PA reported.
The review found that people who regularly consumed five grams of salt a day too much had a 23 per cent greater risk of stroke and the chances of developing heart disease grew by 17 per cent.
Malta joined the EU salt reduction initiative earlier this year when the government launched a national campaign to highlight the effects of a high salt intake on health.