Salt Overload Puts Kenya's Health at Risk.
More people in Kenya eat too much salt. This comes from both old ways of cooking and new processed foods. Salt helps keep food fresh and adds taste, but eating too much leads to high blood pressure.
City life brings new risks. Many urban stores sell salty snacks and ready-made meals, which contain more salt than home-cooked meals. Back in rural areas, people eat less salt and stay healthier.
The World Health Group recommends eating less than one teaspoon of salt daily. Yet most city dwellers in Kenya eat much more. A study from Nairobi found that many eat half as much as they should.
High blood pressure hits hard in East Africa. It makes hearts work harder and can lead to strokes. Many people don't know they have it until serious problems show up. Right here in Kenya, one in four adults has high blood pressure. Half of them don't even know it.
Doctors say fresh food helps beat the salt trap. They tell people to use herbs and spices instead of salt. Garlic and onions add flavor without risk. Reading food labels helps spot hidden salt. Rinsing canned foods washes away extra salt.
The problem grows bigger in cities, where fast food and packaged snacks fill store shelves. These quick meals often contain lots of salt, while rural families eating fresh, home-cooked food face fewer risks.
Kenya's health leaders want change. They push for better food choices and regular blood pressure checks. Small changes in salt use could save many lives. Fewer heart attacks and strokes would follow.
Fresh cooking brings hope. When families cook at home, they control their salt. Simple steps like keeping salt off the table help break old habits. Better food choices mean better health for Kenya.
More people in Kenya eat too much salt. This comes from both old ways of cooking and new processed foods. Salt helps keep food fresh and adds taste, but eating too much leads to high blood pressure.
City life brings new risks. Many urban stores sell salty snacks and ready-made meals, which contain more salt than home-cooked meals. Back in rural areas, people eat less salt and stay healthier.
The World Health Group recommends eating less than one teaspoon of salt daily. Yet most city dwellers in Kenya eat much more. A study from Nairobi found that many eat half as much as they should.
High blood pressure hits hard in East Africa. It makes hearts work harder and can lead to strokes. Many people don't know they have it until serious problems show up. Right here in Kenya, one in four adults has high blood pressure. Half of them don't even know it.
Doctors say fresh food helps beat the salt trap. They tell people to use herbs and spices instead of salt. Garlic and onions add flavor without risk. Reading food labels helps spot hidden salt. Rinsing canned foods washes away extra salt.
The problem grows bigger in cities, where fast food and packaged snacks fill store shelves. These quick meals often contain lots of salt, while rural families eating fresh, home-cooked food face fewer risks.
Kenya's health leaders want change. They push for better food choices and regular blood pressure checks. Small changes in salt use could save many lives. Fewer heart attacks and strokes would follow.
Fresh cooking brings hope. When families cook at home, they control their salt. Simple steps like keeping salt off the table help break old habits. Better food choices mean better health for Kenya.
