Bacon is one of the main culprits for Brits' high blood pressure

High blood pressure means the heart has to work harder than usual to pump blood around the body.
Health experts are warning about a popular type of food in the UK, claiming it is one of the biggest culprits in high blood pressure, the Mirror reports.
High blood pressure means the heart has to work harder than usual to pump blood around the body. Over time, this damages the heart and other organs, with the condition increasing the risk of heart disease and stroke, among other serious problems.
It is estimated that around one in three adults in the UK lives with high blood pressure, although many may not realise this due to the fact that it is largely symptomless. One of the biggest contributing factors to hypertension is diet.
Specifically, consuming too much salt is often found to be the biggest cause of high blood pressure. Salt can cause the body to retain more water, which puts additional pressure on the blood vessels.
According to the British Heart Foundation (BHF), 'most' of us eat too much salt, which puts us at risk of high blood pressure and related health problems. Although you may think you don't need to worry about salt if you don't add it while cooking or at the table, most of the salt we consume (up to 85%) is already in the foods we buy.
So you may be eating more than you think. It is recommended that we limit our daily salt intake to a maximum of 6 grams per day - about one teaspoon. But most of us eat more than that.
The BFSC lists the worst culprits for salt intake, with one popular food type taking the top spot. It found that processed meats, such as bacon and sausages, make up 19% of the salt that Britons consume - far more than any other type of food.
"Bacon, sausages, ham, meat pies, sausage rolls and other meat dishes are among the foods that add the most salt (and saturated fat) to our diets," the report explains.
"It is also recommended that we cut down on processed meats to reduce our risk of cancer. You can do this by replacing ham sandwiches with tuna or egg sandwiches, and replacing bacon or sausage in sandwiches or in cooked breakfasts with mushrooms or a poached egg on toast," the paper adds.
A recent scientific study published in the journal Clinical Nutrition found that the link between processed meat and high blood pressure is likely due to the nitrate content of the food. The authors of the study say, "As a result of the study, it was found that nitrates in human food are very:
"Processed meat consumption is associated with high blood pressure, which is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, but there are still gaps regarding the ingredients that contribute to this association."
"Therefore, this study aimed to examine the association between nitrite and nitrate intake from processed meat with diastolic and systolic blood pressure, controlling for sodium intake," the study authors write. | BGNES