3. Refined carbohydrates
Products made from white flour – like white bread, pasta and pizza dough – are rapidly broken down into simple sugars in the blood and in excess can lead to weight gain and increased blood pressure.
Sticking to a low carb diet has been shown to reduce systolic and diastolic (pressures in your arteries) blood pressure, as well as other risk factors for heart disease.
4. Processed and pre-packaged foods
These often contain a combination of the worst offenders – salt, sugar (or glucose-fructose syrup) and refined carbohydrates.
Ready meals and fast foods often owe their flavour to lots of added sugar and salt.
Also watch out for shop bought sandwiches, cereal, cereal bars, crackers and biscuits.