Home cooks need to be aware that they can add flavour to meals without having to use masses of salt, an expert has said.

It may take a while, but it is possible for people to wean themselves off salty tastes, noted registered nutritionist Carina Norris.

She continued: "For Christmas dinner and Sunday lunches, a little spritz of olive oil or another flavoured oil like sesame oil or walnut oil can help."

Ms Norris also highlighted that spices and herbs can be added to dishes in order to give them more flavour, while more unusual ingredients can also have the same effect.

For example, she recommended adding orange juice to carrots once they have been cooked.

Consensus Action on Salt and Health recently found that traditional Sunday roast dinners often have excessively high levels of salt in them, potentially putting many families at risk.