One in four deaths from heart disease or stroke could be prevented by changes in diet.
New research from University College Cork found that a cut in salt and fat and an increase in fruit and veg can have dramatic results - quickly.
Researchers found that reducing salt intake by just one gram a day, reducing fat marginally and adding one portion of fruit or veg a day could prevent almost 400 deaths a year.
Ivan Perry is Professor of Public Health at UCC.
He says the change in Irish diet has helped bring down the death rate from heart attack and stroke;
