Most people don’t realize they are eating too much salt every day. In the United States, foods like pizza, chips, burgers, and even bread contain large amounts of hidden salt.
On average, Americans consume over 3,400 milligrams of sodium each day. That’s far more than the recommended limit of 2,300 milligrams.
This habit may seem harmless, but it’s not. Eating too much salt can lead to high blood pressure, which increases the chances of heart disease, stroke, and early death.
Many scientists have been trying to find a way to help people reduce salt without losing the flavor they love. In 2015, a team supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) came up with a new kind of salt.
This new salt is a mix: 75% regular salt and 25% potassium chloride. Potassium is a mineral naturally found in foods like bananas, potatoes, and spinach. It helps the body relax blood vessels and lower blood pressure. That makes it a smart and helpful replacement for some of the sodium in salt.
The goal of this salt blend is simple: let people enjoy the salty taste they are used to while cutting down on sodium and adding potassium. This way, people don’t have to completely change their diets to take better care of their hearts.
To find out if this new salt could help in real life, Dr. Jaime Miranda and his team did a large study in Peru. Between 2014 and 2017, they gave the salt mix to six small villages in the Tumbes region. In this area, many people have high blood pressure and there is limited access to health care. The study involved 2,376 people between the ages of 18 and over 65.
The results were hopeful. The people who used the salt blend had lower blood pressure. There were also fewer new cases of high blood pressure compared to those who continued using regular salt.
On average, the blood pressure drop was about 2 mm Hg. That may sound small, but even a little drop like that can reduce the risk of stroke and heart problems. Even better, the salt blend did not cause any serious side effects in the study. That means it is safe for most people.
Dr. Miranda said that switching to this salt blend could be a low-cost way to help people live longer and healthier lives, especially in places where there are not enough doctors or clinics. It can help both young and old people and prevent health problems before they get worse.
However, there is one important thing to remember. People with kidney problems should be careful. Their kidneys might not be able to get rid of extra potassium, which could be dangerous. So, anyone who has a long-term health issue should talk to a doctor before changing to this salt blend.
This salt is not a magic fix, but it is a helpful part of a bigger plan to stay healthy. Doctors still suggest following the DASH diet, which means eating more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and less salty foods. Regular physical activity, staying at a healthy weight, and avoiding smoking and too much alcohol also matter a lot.
In the end, this new salt mix gives people a better option. It helps them keep the taste they enjoy while protecting their heart. When used together with other healthy habits, this small change can lead to a big improvement in health and save lives.
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 health information, please see recent studies about added sugar in your diet linked to higher blood pressure, and results showing vitamin D could improve blood pressure in people with diabetes.
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