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Author: admin
Fitness Party – A great Way to Get People Active
BlogPhysical Activity
May 5, 2017

Fitness Party – A great Way to Get People Active

With more than 20 million people in the UK reported to be physically inactive and thus not getting enough exercise, there is a need to find fun innovative ways to get people moving. With that in mind, last month we attended the Fitness Blastoff BASH, an event that we were really excited about as we loved the idea of a fitness party.

The Fitness Blastoff is an urban fitness dance party experience for men and women based in the UK. They work with a variety of aerobics instructors to create unique, fresh and lively workouts but with a party-like feel to it.

So on the 1st April, with a sense of excitement, we ventured to their BASH, we arrived late and as we walked through the door of the venue we were met with a huge number of people dancing to music blaring through the speakers as the DJ on the stage created a fantastic party atmosphere. It really did feel like a club, it was dark with a great vibe and some club lights too.  What struck me as I walked around was the diversity in the room (young, old, black, white and all shapes and sizes) and the smiles – everybody was having a good time in their trainers, gym wear and with water bottles in hand.

As we tried to find a bit of space in the hall we suddenly heard the DJ say: “Are you ready for your 5 hour workout!??” Fear then set in as we all looked at each other and thought: “ I don’t think we’ll last 5 hours!”

After a few minutes of throwing our hands in the air and singing along with the rest of the crowd we were introduced to the first instructor, Alicja Blachut, for a 30 minute Jamaican Dancehall session called Mash It Up, this was a fast- paced, fun session where we learnt a routine to Ed Sheeran’s Shape of You. The time flew by and before we knew it, the 30 minutes was over and it was time for a 5 minute water break. This was followed by the sessions below, each with a 5 minute break afterwards:

Believe it or not, we were having so much fun that the 5 hours flew by so quickly and at the end of the event we didn’t want to leave!

It was a very tiring day, but because it was so much fun, we didn’t actually feel it in the same way we have done when we’ve taken part in other fitness events where we’d be counting down the time to the end of the session.

The sessions we enjoyed the most were the Afrobeat, Jungle, Hip Hop and House sessions. The instructors were very engaging and had put a lot of thought into their sessions, making them easy to follow but very energetic.

The event was a massive success for so many reasons. Firstly, the variety of workouts, each session being so different made for an interesting and fun day; Secondly, the DJ. He was very good, he set the tone of the day creating a fun atmosphere, getting the crowd going and in between sessions got us dancing, waving our hands and doing various dances (loved it!); the organisation of the event. The event was really well organised, there was plenty of water on hand and lots of attention paid to the safety of attendees.

We applaud the team behind the Fitness Blastoff for their approach to getting people active. This was a creative and fun way to encourage people to take part in exercise and, from the variety of people in the room, we think it attracted a lot of people that running, cycling and traditional exercise wouldn’t appeal to, giving them an option that suits them. Plus I don’t think you could get a lot of people to exercise for 5 hours and still be smiling at the end of it, like this event did. The fact that people had so much fun meant they were motivated to keep going.

We’re so glad we attended the Fitness Blastoff Bash, we didn’t know what to expect and were pleasantly surprised, we had a wonderful time and most importantly we got a fantastic workout.

The Fitness Blastoff team’s next event, the Afrobeats vs Dancehall Fitness Pop-up Party, is on Saturday 27th May at 1pm and you can book your tickets here

By admin
A Summary of This Week’s Fibroids Twitter Chat with Dr Sydney Dillard
BlogFibroids Twitter Chats
May 5, 2017

A Summary of This Week’s Fibroids Twitter Chat with Dr Sydney Dillard

On Wednesday,  we were so excited to host our third fibroids Twitter chat. We were joined by special guest Dr Sydney Dillard, CEO of Fighting Fibroids to discuss the symptoms and diagnosis of fibroids.  If you missed it you can check out our conversation below.

By admin
Keep It Simple
BlogDietVolunteer Bloggers
May 1, 2017

Keep It Simple

This week, our guest blogger, Stacey Mensah, strips it all back when it comes to our diet and asks: ‘Why don’t we just keep it simple? In exploring this question Stacey has been inspired to start a 31 day eating clean challenge today. Follow her journey and, even better, join her on this challenge.

Hello and welcome to another week at the Lake Foundation. This week I decided to look at the idea of simplicity when it comes to diet. Now, this topic must be quite foreign to most of us as everyday life has disguised simplicity as idealism; and so we think we’re incapable of eating the way our ancestors used to. I have to admit, I do find it incredibly idealistic to live in such a way purely because I’ve never done it and I’m sure that if I did do it I would fail miserably.

Complex diet and lifestyle changes have plagued the majority of modern society’s habits but once you break down that formula for losing weight, drinking more water, or whatever that goal may be you find that it isn’t as complicated as it needs to be (or so I’ve heard). For some reason when I decide to go on a diet, or a lifestyle change, as I like to call it, I feel as though it’s​ necessary to buy certain trendy superfoods or go for products with enticing packaging. Just a quick side note though while we’re here: I know I’m not the only one in on this so please continue.

All I’m really left with in the end is an Instagram-worthy shopping cart and what can one do with that? When it comes to cooking, however, I keep it incredibly simple and that, of course, means that I end up wasting the majority of my basket – which is incredibly frustrating. This frustration, of course, drives me to my nearest chippy. And let’s be honest, chips are anything but complicated!

While looking into the idea of keeping it simple I came across an article on Dale Pinnock, who interestingly, is known as the UK’s ‘Medicinal Chef’. This lovely gentleman specializes in the medicinal properties of food and in his latest book, ‘The Medicinal Chef: The Power of Three’, he explores the secrets that can lead to a longer, healthier life. Pinnock stresses the importance of simplicity and the absurdity of buying into trends, ‘I’ve been eating kale for years, and it’s great, but when people take one thing and turn it into the ultimate panacea, that’s when you need to put the bulls*** detectors on’. So this has inspired me…

For the next 31 days, I will be eating a clean diet – free from processed foods, artificial colours​ and all of that other stuff. The exciting bit is I would like to take you along this journey towards ‘the simple life’ via social media. I’ve created the Instagram account – @staceydmensah – where you’ll be able to find daily updates of my journey. My hope for this social experiment is that we may be able to have an open dialogue about healthy eating and good food.

I hope to be speaking to some of you very soon….

Till next week….

By admin
Speakers Confirmed for Upcoming Fibroids Support Group
FibroidsNews
April 23, 2017

Speakers Confirmed for Upcoming Fibroids Support Group

We’re really pleased to let you know that Candice Bryan, Founder of Noire Wellness and Yacoub Khalaf, consultant gynaecologist at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospital will be speaking at the upcoming fibroids support group session.

Candice Bryan will be discussing fibroids and exercise whilst Yacoub Khalaf will be exploring the clinical side of fibroids.

We are  so delighted to have teamed up with TOHETI at Guy’s Hospital for this support group session. which will take place on Monday 15th May from  6:00pm – 7:30pm at the McNair Centre at Guy’s.

Anyone who has been affected by fibroids is welcome to attend and this session aims to provide women with the opportunity to share their experience, meet other women with fibroids, obtain support and hear from experts in the field.

TOHETI’s support group provides a safe, informal setting for women to ask questions and share concerns, both before and after surgery. The group is run by patients, for patients and a clinical member of staff will be present to help answer questions.

For more information and to let us know you’re coming please email events@thelakefoundation.com

By admin
Cycling Hacks
BlogCycling
April 21, 2017

Cycling Hacks

In this week’s blog our Cycling Club Coordinator, Sheila, discusses some great cycling tips she’s picked up from members of the club. Share some of your cycling hacks with us, we’d love to hear them.

One of the benefits of joining The Lake Foundation Cycling Club has been getting to know other members of the group. We come from all walks of life: from a curtain maker to celebrities, an accountant, to a care worker who has enjoyed a former life as a salsa teacher. The diversity of our group also means that there is a wealth of knowledge and experience between us. Here are a few cycling related gems (cycling hacks) that have emerged from our members.

Apps and websites

One of our cyclists was pretty new to cycling before joining The Lake Foundation Cycling Club. She went from strength to strength and went on to invest in cycling equipment and clothing. She began to ride outside of the club and even took part in the London to Brighton bike ride. It was encouraging to see members of The Lake foundation cycling club support her as she trained for the ride. Whatsapp was a great way to keep up to date with her progress on the day of the ride and cheer her on.

A couple of our cyclists use Strava which allows you to record your sport activities and progress over time. On occasion they’ve then shared the route so we can see how we’re doing as a group.

Our cycling instructors have taken advantage of apps to make their lives easier. One says he’s not a fan of tech. An app like Whatsapp is “far too complicated” for him.  Plot a Route is the exception. He uses it because, “it’s simple and does exactly what it says”. “I can then take a screen-shot and send you the route!” Our second cycling instructor uses Ride with GPS, which also allows you to plot routes in advance but comes with details cue sheets and a wide range of features for the more serious tech savvy rider.

Clothing

A kindly couple in our group took it upon themselves to buy a high-visibility top for one of our riders. Highly visibility clothing has reflective properties or is of a colour that is easily seen from any background. High-visibility clothing can be a life-saver when cycling amongst motor vehicles during day or night.

I’d never had known waterproof socks existed had it not been for one of our more serious riders. It was a cold Saturday morning when we ventured out from Croydon to cycling to Greenwich. I was smug about having layered against the cold weather. I wasn’t prepared, however, for the relentless rain. I re-emerged from the bathroom after a failed attempt to dry my wet socks and was met by laughter of my friend amused by my misery while she enjoyed a hot mug of tea and the comfort of her dry sealskinz socks.

Why not share your cycling hacks with us on Facebook or Twitter #cyclinghacks.

The Lake Foundation  does not endorse or recommend any commercial products, processes, or services. Therefore, mention of commercial products, processes, or services on the Lake Foundation website cannot be construed as an endorsement or recommendation.

By admin
Discussing Diabetes in Croydon
BlogDiabetesNon-Communicable Diseases (NCDs)
April 13, 2017

Discussing Diabetes in Croydon

Yesterday, we had the pleasure of attending an event organised by Diabetes UK and Croydon Clinical Commissioning Group. This event was entitled ‘Type 2 Diabetes and the Croydon Community’ and it brought together patients, healthcare professionals, local charities and commissioners to discuss how   we can tackle diabetes in Croydon.

The event started with a welcome and introduction by Dr Rajan Namasivayam from the Diabetes UK Croydon Local Group and then we heard from the three main speakers: Rachael Glover, Manager at Diabetes UK; Charlotte Harris, Senior Researcher, Revealing Reality;  and Dipti Gandhi, Diabetes Clinical Lead at Croydon CCG.

Setting the Scene

Rachael Glover from Diabetes UK started the session with a good introduction to type 2 diabetes and its prevention and management.  From Rachael’s presentation, we learnt of the extent to which diabetes affects those living in the UK; currently, 4.5 million people in the UK have diabetes.  Rachael explained that diabetes occurs when our body isn’t able to control our blood glucose levels and glucose builds up in the blood leading to a number of health problems.  Diabetes is a result of problems with our insulin which is a hormone that helps our body use glucose preventing glucose levels from rising to dangerously high levels.

Rachael stated that there are two main types of diabetes:

Type 1 diabetes: this is where the body doesn’t make any insulin at all

Type 2 diabetes:  where the body doesn’t make enough insulin or the insulin isn’t working properly.

From Rachael’s presentation, it was noted that 90% of people with diabetes have type 2 diabetes hence why there is a need to focus on this type of diabetes, particularly because 3/5 cases of type 2 diabetes are preventable. This means there is a huge opportunity to successfully tackle diabetes.

Rachael explained that type 2 diabetes can be prevented by eating a healthier diet, being more active and maintaining a healthy weight.

Rachael stated that the national programme Healthier You: NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme was launched in 2016 to support people at high risk of developing diabetes to change their lifestyle to reduce their risk.

Rachael also discussed the best ways of ensuring that patients with diabetes are able to successfully manage their condition.  She stated that one of the most effective ways to do this is through patient education and there are several approaches:  one-to-one information and advice, informal flexible ongoing information, ongoing support and structured education.  These approaches are useful to patients with 90% of patients saying that they were better able to manage their condition following education, but sadly only 5% of diabetes patients attend an education event. With this in mind, Diabetes UK and Croydon CCG have pledged to reach 50% of diabetics through education.

Interesting Research

Next, we heard from Charlotte Harris, Senior Researcher from Revealing Reality. Charlotte summarised the findings from a very interesting research study that aimed to understand attitudes to diabetes amongst the South Asian communities of Thornton Heath in Croydon.

In their study they explored the needs, barriers and opportunities for innovation and they did this by finding out about diabetes as it is really lived in the community – they visited patients in their own environment.  From their work they identified  four key areas for innovation:

  • Food
  • Lifestyle and fitness
  • Medical and healthcare
  • Knowledge and advice

They also found that:

  1. When looking at the South Asian community, there was no one South Asian community or culture. There were many cultural differences (Indian, Bangladeshi etc..) and these differences are usually overlooked when health education and awareness projects are developed.
  1. Despite diabetes being talked about frequently, understanding of diabetes is low and for people where there was an understanding knowledge wasn’t applied practically.
  1. There was a sense in the South Asian community that diabetes is inevitable and there isn’t anything that can be done to prevent it, so there was a significant feeling of powerlessness.
  1. Many myths about diabetes exist such as climate and stress cause diabetes and that diabetes can be cured, this myth about there being a cure was a major problem as people would stop taking their medication once they started feeling better believing they were cured.
  1. There was a lack of knowledge of the serious complications that are associated with diabetes.

Tackling Diabetes in Croydon

Finally, we heard from Dipti Gandhi the diabetes clinical lead at Croydon CCG. Dipti explained that, in Croydon, diabetes is a  huge problem with about 10% of residents living with diabetes.  She then went on to explain some of the services in Croydon. These included:

  • A new prevention programme where pre-diabetics are identified and enrolled in a 15-month programme to reduce their risk of developing diabetes. This programme has started in Thornton Heath and will expand to other areas in Croydon.
  • Online support via Croydon Council’s Just Be Programme
  • Voluntary sector projects to raise awareness
  • Support with medications
  • Group consultations with GPs and exploring ways of patients accessing diabetes specialists
  • Self education through DESMOND Type 2 and DAFNE Type 1

Conclusion

This was a really informative and interesting event and one that was of great importance to the black community who are three times more likely to develop diabetes than their white counterparts. The Lake Foundation is currently making its own contribution to tackling diabetes in Croydon by teaming up with Diabetes UK and Croydon CCG with funding from Croydon Council to run a diabetes community champion project.  To find out more about this project or to volunteer to take part please email us

By admin
Parkinson’s: The Forgotten Disease
BlogVolunteer Bloggers
April 10, 2017

Parkinson’s: The Forgotten Disease

This week is Parkinson’s Awareness Week and our guest blogger, Stacey Mensah, discusses this condition, urging us to bring this forgotten disease into the limelight.

Welcome back to the Lake Foundation’s blog! I hope everyone is doing amazing well! As this week marks the beginning of Parkinson’s awareness week, I believe it would be fitting to base this post around that issue. Now I’m going to be honest with you, I never really understood health weeks. I believed it to be marketing ploy but, fortunately I have changed the error of my ways. Raising the awareness of Parkinson’s is incredibly important, as many people still view it as an elderly person’s illness, when in fact it is striking men and women all over the country, far earlier in life. Parkinson’s has been described as the forgotten disease as it manifests itself differently in each individual and so it’s harder to diagnose and there unfortunately is no cure. Or, at least just not yet there isn’t. So let’s get the basics out of the way…

According to the National Health Service, Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative condition of the central nervous system that mainly affects the part of the nervous system that is involved with movement. The three main symptoms of Parkinson’s disease are:

Tremor. This refers to a shaking that usually begins in the limbs, often in your hands or fingers. You may notice a back and forth rubbing of your thumb and forefinger, known as a pill-rolling tremor. Another characteristic of Parkinson’s disease is a tremor of your hand when it is relaxed. Unfortunately there is no cure for a tremor but there are ways to control it. In the early stages of Parkinson’s some people might be able to suppress their hand tremor by squeezing or rolling a ball, pen or similar object. A specialist or a Parkinson’s nurse should be able to give you advice on what would be the best course of action to take.

Slowed Movement. Parkinson’s disease will gradually reduce your ability to move and slow your movement, making simple tasks quite time consuming. The reduction in the level of dopamine may also cause your steps to become shorter when you walk and may also make it difficult getting out of a chair. People have found physiotherapy helpful as it improves their symptoms. A physio therapist will also be able to recommend exercises and techniques to help with your mobility.

Rigidity. This stops muscles from stretching and relaxing. It can cause: stiff muscles, inflexible muscles, pain and muscle cramps and a fixed ‘mask-like’ facial expression. Rigidity prevents you from being able to swing your arms as their muscles will be too tight and stiff.  Regular exercise of course will help strengthen muscles and improve flexibility and mobility. Physiotherapy will also be a big reliever of muscle pain.

It is all too easy to forget about this disease and so we urge you to do something this week. Whether it is raising money for the cause, or simply just inviting a friend over to discuss the topic. We need to bring this forgotten disease back into the lime light and it can only start with you.

See you next week x

More information on the symptoms of Parkinson’s can be found at parkinsons.org.uk

By admin
APPG Publishes Report on Fibroids and Informed Choice
BlogFibroidsWomen's Health
March 31, 2017

APPG Publishes Report on Fibroids and Informed Choice

We were so delighted when we received an email from the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Women’s Health a few months ago telling us that they would be carrying out an inquiry into informed choice and fibroids and endometriosis,  two of the most common conditions affecting women.

The aim of the inquiry was to explore whether women with fibroids and endometriosis are given an informed choice about the treatment options available and to outline what improvements need to be made.

In order to assess this issue the APPG on Women’s Health consulted with women affected by these conditions as well as healthcare professionals. This was done through a survey, written evidence submissions, an oral evidence session and freedom of information requests to all 139 hospital trusts in the UK.

The Lake Foundation started working on providing information and support to women with fibroids about two years ago following our own survey which found that more needed to be done to ensure women had enough information and support to manage their condition. We published a fibroids booklet, formed an Ask the Expert panel and hosted our first fibroids conference for women affected by fibroids. So for us the APPG’s inquiry was a breath of fresh air as it finally put a national spotlight on fibroids and in doing so enabled the challenges that women with fibroids experience to be raised at the highest level possible, in parliament, and we hope that this will bring about real change.

Results from the Inquiry

The inquiry has now come to an end and this week the APPG on Women’s Health published their report and, like the results of our survey, their report makes for grim reading. Nothing has changed.

Over 2,600 women with fibroids (237) and endometriosis (2,367) completed their survey and:

  • 62% said they were not happy with the treatment choices
  • 42% said they were not treated with dignity and respect
  • 67% said they first found information about their condition from the internet

Looking at just the answers that related to fibroids, 70% of women were told about a hysterectomy suggesting that women are pushed towards this treatment option when many other options are available.  Over 20% of women with fibroids felt the need to get a second opinion and 34% of women were not satisfied with their treatment.

Additionally, over 40% of women with fibroid were not told about the short-term complications of their treatment and over 50% weren’t told about the long-term complications.

The inquiry also identified a number of barriers that prevent women from receiving the best care possible. These included:

  • Lack of public awareness
  • Lack of understanding of these conditions by GPs
  • Common myths about fibroids and endometriosis
  • Lack of information
  • An inefficient diagnosis pathway
  • Lack of follow-up and support after treatment

As a result of their inquiry the APPG made a number of recommendations which fell into the following categories

  • Improve patient experience
  • Improve awareness
  • Improve the diagnosis pathway

Our Thoughts

The Lake Foundation was happy to see this inquiry take place and happy to see the report published. We were disappointed that, even though we raised it, there was no recognition of the fact that fibroids are more common in black women and black women are more likely to develop multiple and more aggressive fibroids. This is an important point to highlight as it means that there needs to be a greater focus on black women who will need more support. GPs need to be aware of this so they can diagnose black women quickly and look at treatment stratgies before symptoms become unbearable.

More Information

For more information you can read the APPG’s full report below.

By admin
The Health Benefits of Reading
Mental HealthVolunteer Bloggers
March 26, 2017

The Health Benefits of Reading

This week, our guest blogger, Stacey Mensah, finishes off our series on the health benefits of various leisure activities. In previous blogs we’ve explored the health benefits of writing and listening to music and in this current blog Stacey puts the spotlight on reading. 

Good Morning, Everyone! I hope you’re doing well! Today’s post is on the topic of reading but more specifically with the health benefits that are associated with it. I love to read because it allows me to widen my perspective of the world and that has always been important to me. It’s also a great way to mentally escape from that morning commute or even the noisy neighbours. The benefits of reading – for the most part – can be grouped into the external and internal. With the internal referring to how reading changes you from the inside and external being how it affects your outwardly health.  As I’ve gotten older it’s become a lot harder to read as frequently as I would like. The urgent commitments of life always seem to overshadow the casual commitment to read and that frankly is the problem! Keeping these benefits at the forefront of your mind will ensure we no longer view reading as a secondary task. So, here we go:

The Internal Benefits of Reading

Cognitive Stimulation

Reading has shown to slow the progress of Alzheimer’s and Dementia, as it keeps your brain active and prevents it from losing power. This means that it’s great to challenge yourself when choosing a book. I’m about to read the book, ‘Gut’ by Giulia Enders. It’s a book that I’ve tried to read before but of course has challenged me and therefore has stayed on my withering bookshelf. It’s ok if you’re stopping to define words, underlining or simply just stopping for time to internalize. If we don’t challenge ourselves daily, we will not grow as human beings and stagnation is a dangerous thing!

Say Bye-Bye To Stress

Weight Watchers has recently reported that cuddling up with your favourite book can reduce levels of stress hormones called cortisol. Studies have shown that participants who read after partaking in a stressful activity are more likely to have their stress levels drop by more than 50%.

Vocabulary Expansion

This is personally one of my favourite benefits of reading. It certainly beats reading a dictionary, which no one should ever do willingly. Researchers estimate that we learn up to 15% of our vocabulary through reading. This is significant for children, whose vocabulary size is directly related to the books they read. By reading in your spare time you will feel more comfortable reading to your children. Especially if they are asking you to explain concepts, and hey, you may even enjoy it.

Peace

Do I need to say anymore? Reading is a source of tranquillity and with the pressures of everyday life it’s important to not get caught up in the hustle and bustle. Reading is your way of giving yourself a time-out. Time out from the world to find your centre and re-group – making you a stronger individual in the long term.

Improved Focus and Concentration

It’s sad to say that in our technology advanced world, the average attention span has greatly diminished as different platforms are continuously vying for our attention. Within the first few minutes of waking up the average person will check their various social media profiles, check emails, monitor their smart phones and interact with their family and friends. This wouldn’t be so bad if those few minutes didn’t turn into an hour or possibly more. Reading a book allows all of your attention to be focused on the story. Try reading 15 minutes a day before you go to work and I’m sure you’ll see the difference.

The External Benefits of Reading

Read – Your Muscles Will Thank You Later

Reading is a great way to stay focused while working out. A grappling plot may keep you on that cross trainer a little longer than expected. Remember to always keep your posture as failing to do this would result in injury.

Reading Can Encourage Life Goals

I liken reading a biography to the equivalent of getting a cheat sheet on that test you just can’t seem to pass. Someone has basically condensed their life and logic into the pages of a book, that you now happen to be the owner of. Recounting all of the mistakes they made and the lessons they learnt so you don’t have to. Reading about someone inspirational can also motivate you to reach your own goals.

Brighten Up Your Day

Novels drum up positive feelings in more subtle ways. Your favourite character happens to become an extension of you and when they happen to have a triumph and overcome an obstacle your day will suddenly become a lot brighter.

Entertain Yourself While Saving Money

Reading a is a low-budget source of entertainment and can be next too free if you choose to borrow books from your local library. Cue the angel chimes. Libraries have books on every subject and usually rotate their selection so you will always be met with a challenge. If you aren’t able to get to a library however, then you can always download e-books, or a version suitable for your kindle in order to get your fix. There is a topic for everyone, so, please, don’t be shy and get stuck in!

Comment down below and let us know what your favourite books are…

By admin
It’s Salt Awareness Week
BlogDietNews
March 22, 2017

It’s Salt Awareness Week

This week is Salt Awareness Week and this year’s theme is: “Salt: The Hidden Killer.” The aim of this year’s campaign is to raise awareness of the fact that 75% of the salt that the public consumes is hidden in the everyday foods that we buy. The fact that salt is hidden means that people are consuming a lot more salt than they realise. Therefore the public is being urged to read the label of all the foods they buy and select foods that are low in salt.

In order to combat the high salt content of many foods, manufacturers have been asked to take part in a voluntary salt reduction programme. This programme sets salt targets for a range of foods such as meat products, bread, breakfast cereals, cheese and more. New UK-wide targets have been published this year, these targets are a revised version of the previous targets which were published in 2012. The 2012 targets were very successful leading to a 40-50% reduction of salt in the foods covered by the targets. Despite this success, salt consumption still remains high so the new 2017 targets are more challenging and wide-ranging.

A new survey conducted by the Consensus for Action on Salt and Health has found that only one (bread rolls) out of the twenty-eight food categories analysed were on track to meet the salt reduction targets. They also identified specific products that still had a unacceptably high levels of salt, of particular note were:

  • Baxters Chef Selections Cullen Skink (1.1g salt/100g), more than 1.5 times salt (per 100g) the maximum salt reduction target for soup
  • Aldi The Fishmonger Piri Piri Smoked Mackerel Fillets (8g salt/serving), 4 times more salt (per 100g) the maximum salt reduction target for meal centres
  • Galaxy Ultimate Marshmallow Hot Chocolate (0.8g salt per serving), 5 times more salt (per 100g) the maximum salt reduction target for beverages

In the UK, it is recommended that adults eat no more than 6 grams of salt a day (about a teaspoon) and children under the age of 11 should it less, depending on their age as follows:

  • 7-10 year olds: no more than 5 grams a day
  • 4-6 year olds: no more than 3 grams a day
  • 1-3 year olds: no more than 2 grams a day

The World Health Organisation recommends that adults consume even less salt, no more than 5 grams a day. They have concluded that a diet of less than 5 grams of salt a day helps to reduce blood pressure and risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke and coronary heart attack.

It is very important that the black community takes steps to reduce their salt intake as the black community is more susceptible to the effect that salt has on increasing blood pressure. In order to reduce your salt consumption you can try:

  • Avoiding processed foods
  • Using low/no salt seasonings, like this
  • Replacing salt, when seasoning food, with herbs and spices
  • Reading food labels and selecting foods that are low in salt
  • Not adding any salt to the foods that you cook

By reducing the amount of salt we eat, we can reduce our risk of developing a number of diseases so it is important that we stick to the recommendation of less than 6 grams a day.

By admin