Food manufacturers could drastically decrease the rate of heart disease by reducing the amount of salt in their foods.

Mandatory legislation is a method that is nearly 20 times more successful in lowering the rate of heart disease, according to research by the University of Queensland.

The study suggested that if the government was to enforce strong restrictions of the salt content of foods, ill health from cardiovascular disease could decrease by around 18 per cent.

Dr Linda Cobiac, of the University of Queensland, said: "Food manufacturers have a responsibility to make money for their shareholders, but they also have a responsibility to society."

This news comes after the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey claimed that people who had eaten higher amounts of the omega-3 fatty acids were less prone to gum disease.

Associate professor from Harvard Medical School, Dr. Kenneth Mukamal, said that eating foods such as fish can lower the probability of gum disease and improve the health of individuals.