Defuse a ticker time bomb. Harvard researchers found that eating less salt may prevent heart disease - but for reasons not directly linked to blood pressure. In a study of 3000 people, scientists asked half of them to cut their daily salt intake by half a teaspoon - about 1150mg sodium - for two years. The others didn’t curb their sodium consumption.

Fifteen years later, the lower-salt group had a 30 per cent lower risk of heart disease. High sodium intake may harden the arteries, says study author author Nancy Cook, ScD. If you take canned food, go for lower-sodium variety, or cook your own meals for greater control over your salt intake. Here’s a tip: Use organic sea salts. Its crystal tend to be thicker, so you’ll pick up and use less.