Salt, Fried Food, Sugar: A Ticking Time Bomb in Our Arteries

In Mauritius, cardiovascular diseases are no longer just affecting seniors. Increasingly, young adults, sometimes in their twenties, are already showing signs of hypertension, high cholesterol, and abdominal obesity. “Hyperlipidemia (excess fat in the blood) and atherosclerosis can be well advanced by the age of 30,” warns Leela Moothoosamy, Senior Nutritionist at the Ministry of Health.

According to the National Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) Survey 2021, nearly 76.9% of Mauritians aged 25 to 74 years (77.5% of men, 76.4% of women) have at least three cardiovascular risk factors: diabetes, hypertension, abdominal obesity, smoking, high cholesterol, or albuminuria. Only 13.5% (10.7% of men and 13.7% of women) do not present any. Thus, a majority lives with a real ticking time bomb in their arteries.

Diet plays a central role in the rise of heart attacks among younger individuals. A study conducted in 2023 revealed that Mauritians aged 30 to 59 consume an average of 7.1g of salt daily (7.6g for men and 6.5g for women), exceeding the 5g recommended by WHO. “Even though bread is now limited to 1g of salt per 100g, processed foods, commercial sauces, achards, or salted fish continue to contribute to the excess,” the nutritionist specifies.

Fried food is widespread, practiced by 80% of participants in the national nutrition survey (2022). Coupled with the consumption of refined carbohydrates – rice, farata, dholl puri, sugary drinks – and saturated fats (fried foods, pastries, fatty meats), it promotes overweight from adolescence and increases cardiovascular risk in adulthood. The energy intake consistently exceeds the recommended needs across all age groups, notes the nutritionist.

Traditional dishes – briani, farata, dholl puri, or chili cakes – remain at the heart of family and social meals. However, salad portions are often minimal, replaced by oily and salty achards. “Our meals are generously accompanied by sugary or alcoholic beverages, and guests are encouraged to eat abundantly,” Leela Moothoosamy observes.

The solution? Prepare these dishes with healthier alternatives: lighter cooking methods, reduced salt and oil, and use of herbs and spices for flavor. Increasing the amount of vegetables and salads can reinvent recipes without sacrificing taste.

However, modern lifestyles complicate prevention. Many skip one or two meals, leading to snacking and overindulgence during subsequent meals. Fried foods, snacks, pastries, and sugary drinks are ubiquitous in streets and food courts. Energy drinks, very popular among the youth, add to already excessive intakes, at the expense of more nutritious foods. Leela Moothoosamy even speaks of a “food swamp” where unhealthy choices become more accessible than home-cooked meals.

Alcohol, rarely mentioned in prevention campaigns, exacerbates the situation: consumption of salty snacks, loss of portion control, and skipped balanced meals. Moderation remains key: fewer than two drinks per day for women, fewer than three for men, on a maximum of three days per week, and only in the absence of alcohol-related diseases, recommends the nutritionist.

To protect the heart, nutrition must be diversified: whole grains, legumes, fatty fish two to three times a week, lean meats, and fewer than four eggs per week. The intake of fruits and vegetables, currently at 198g/day, should reach 400g/day (Mauritius Nutrition Survey 2022).

Steaming, baking, or air frying is a healthier replacement for frying. Water remains the drink of choice, and unsweetened herbal teas are a great alternative. “The key lies in planning and substitution,” the nutritionist reminds: fruits instead of pastries, vegetables instead of fast food, homemade desserts instead of ice creams, and healthy traditional snacks instead of fried foods. However, three obstacles persist according to the National Nutrition Survey 2022: perceived bland taste, perceived high cost, and difficult family acceptance.

Leela Moothoosamy emphasizes: nutrition is not limited to prevention. After a first heart attack, it complements medication and rehabilitation treatments. Personalized plans, weight control, and management of diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia: nutritional care becomes an essential pillar of heart health in Mauritius.

Increasingly popular among youth, energy drinks represent an additional caloric intake that often complements an already rich diet. “They can replace more nutritious foods or add to already excessive energy intakes, which harms nutritional status and cardiovascular health. However, further research is needed to measure their real impact,” explains Leela Moothoosamy, Senior Nutritionist.