Page 43 - BBC - The Scientific Guide to a Healthier You

DIET

DID YOU KNOW?

Facts that will change

your eating habits

O Consuming two
portions of

SUGAR-
SWEETENED
DRINKS a week
increases the risk
of developing
diabetes.

O SPICY FOOD may
curb salt cravings, as
spice increases activity in brain
regions activated by salt,
probably making people more
sensitive to salt.

O Eating FRIED POTATOES twice a
week increases the risk of death.

O Always eating food in an
8-to-11-hour window in the
day prevents so-called
‘METABOLIC JET LAG’ caused
by eating late at night.

O AVOCADOS contain carbs,
vitamins, minerals, fats and the
key 22 amino acids needed to

build proteins.
SALT

Most of us know that too much salt is bad the risk of heart disease or stroke. The NHS
for us. What’s less well-known is that too recommends that adults should consume
little is also harmful. We need salt for 6g of salt a day, but our intake is nearer 8g.
muscle and nerve activity. If we eat Yet working out how much we eat can be
too little, we develop cramps and tricky because salt is hidden in many foods.
neurological symptoms, and can A whopping 75 per cent of salt we eat
even die. comes from foods like bread,
But hold on, that doesn’t A baked beans and biscuits,
mean you can start whopping while salt added during
munching bumper cooking and at the table by DR MICHAEL MOSLEY
packs of crisps. Most 75 per cent of salt makes up a small (@DrMichaelMosley)
of us consume too we eat comes from amount of our intake. Dr Moseley is a presenter on BBC Two’s
GETTY X2, ALAMY salt intake is linked baked beans and intake can help blood and DR SALEYHA AHSAN
much salt. Excess
Trust Me, I’m a Doctor
foods like bread,
VERDICT: Cutting salt
to high blood
Dr Ahsan works is a practising A&E doctor
pressure, increasing
biscuits pressure stay healthy. and also presents Trust Me, I’m a Doctor.

BBC SCIENCE FOCUS MAGAZINE COLLECTION 43