No connection between salt and heart disease: Study

London, Nov 4 (UNI) A new study has found no conclusive proof of a link between having salt and the incidence of heart disease.

The research, led by Dr Joel Dunning, consultant in cardiothoracic surgery at James Cook University Hospital in Britain, casts doubt on claims that salt increases the risk of heart disease.

Dr Dunning's report supports the view that eating less salt may benefit people with abnormally high blood pressure, but dismisses that salt can cause strokes and heart attacks.

His team reached the conclusion after studying 462 research papers from around the world, the Daily Mail reported.

Consumers have been told for years that salt can cause strokes and heart attacks. Last week itself, international cancer specialists said a daily intake of more than 6g of salt could damage the stomach lining, raise blood pressure and contribute to stroke and heart problems.

But Dr Dunning said,''This is a case of people who want to restrict other people's diet talking before they have read the evidence. The evidence that salt is bad for you is non-existent. The fact that some foods, such as crisps or pizza, have a high salt content is no reason not to eat them. It will make no difference to your health or to how long you live.'' UNI