Scientists have warned about the danger of hidden salt and sugar in products

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If if you do not prepare food yourself, it is impossible to know exactly how much salt and sugar is actually in it. At the same time, many products sold in stores contain an increased dose of salt and sugar. It is not for nothing that they are called “white death”, as an excess of these products can lead to the development of hypertension, heart disease and diabetes.

To protect yourself from the risks, Scott Harding, a professor of biochemistry at Memorial University of Newfoundland, recommends that you start by reading the labels on food more carefully. According to him, there is much more salt and sugar hidden in them than it might seem.

Special attention should be paid to ultra-processed products, which include ready-made and frozen meals, as well as various snacks. According to the expert, it is not surprising that breakfast cereals contain a lot of sugar, but little is known that they contain no less salt. Many popular brands of cereal add 1.5 grams of salt per 100 grams of cereal, which is about the same amount hidden in a handful of potato chips. Also, “especially salty” products include instant soups, bread and buns, ready-made sandwiches, pizza, smoked meats, tomato sauce, the expert said.

A lot of sugar is usually found in yogurts, ketchup, barbecue sauce, dressings for salads and seasonings. There are usually several hidden sugar markers on food labels. For example, the composition includes syrup, honey or molasses, fruit nectars, and you can also see words ending in “oza” – fructose, sucrose, maltose, dextrose. Extreme amounts of sugar are added to energy drinks and various sodas, the Saltwire portal reports.

According to the National Health Service, it is recommended to eat up to 12 teaspoons of sugar and up to 5-6 grams of salt per day. . Despite the danger of these products, they are important for the human body, so it is impossible to completely refuse them, moderation is necessary.