Reducing the amount of salt a person consumes won't improve their health, according to a recent study cited by Reuters.

Despite the previous theory that eating less salt can reduce the risk of an early death or having a stroke, a study from Exeter University has found this isn't true.

Reports confirmed that the researchers at the university studied the eating habits of almost 6,500 people; including the affects their salt consumption had on their health.

Rather than improving the health of the test subjects, cutting back on salt actually "raises the likelihood of death in some patients with heart problems", the researchers revealed. Furthermore, they argued that the effects of consuming too much salt - which are well-publicised by the government - had been "overestimated."

However not everyone has bought into the research, those in dietitian jobs might be interested to hear. One such person was Katharine Jenner, a representative for Consensus Action on Salt and Health.

She told Mail Online: "It is very disappointing that the message from this small review indicates that salt reduction may not be beneficial.

"This is a completely inappropriate conclusion, given the strong evidence and the overwhelming public health consensus that salt raises blood pressure, which leads to cardiovascular disease."

Furthermore, an epidemiology professors from the University of Liverpool, Simon Capewell, called the findings "inconclusive" and said he too was disappointed.