Many people in the U.S. eat too much salt, which can lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and even early death.
On average, Americans eat over 3,400 milligrams of salt each day—much more than the recommended limit of 2,300 milligrams.
To help solve this problem, scientists have created a new kind of salt. It still tastes like regular salt, but it’s healthier. This new salt mix is made of 75% regular salt (sodium chloride) and 25% potassium chloride. Potassium is a mineral that can help lower blood pressure by relaxing blood vessels.
This idea was supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) starting in 2015. Researchers believed that by replacing some of the sodium with potassium, people could still enjoy the salty taste while getting health benefits.
To test this idea, a large study was done in Peru from 2014 to 2017. The study involved 2,376 people in six villages in the Tumbes region. People in the study used the new salt instead of regular salt. They were between 18 and over 65 years old.
The results were very promising. The people who used the salt substitute had lower blood pressure and fewer new cases of high blood pressure. Even a small drop in blood pressure, like 2 mm Hg, can make a big difference by lowering the risk of stroke and heart disease. The study also found that the salt substitute did not cause any harmful side effects.
This shows that using a salt substitute is a simple and effective way to improve health, especially in preventing high blood pressure. It could help people of all ages.
But not everyone should use this kind of salt. People with chronic kidney disease may not be able to handle the extra potassium, so it’s important to talk to a doctor before making big changes to your diet.
While this new salt is a helpful tool, it should be part of a bigger plan for heart health. This includes eating more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-sodium foods. A good example of a healthy eating plan is called the DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension).
In short, this new salt substitute could help millions of people lower their blood pressure and improve their health. But like all health changes, it works best when combined with healthy eating and lifestyle habits.
If you care about high blood pressure, please read studies that early time-restricted eating could help improve blood pressure, and natural coconut sugar could help reduce blood pressure and artery stiffness.
For more information about blood pressure, please see recent studies about How to eat your way to healthy blood pressure and results showing that Modified traditional Chinese cuisine can lower blood pressure.
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