Americans love salty foods. From pizza and chips to burgers and bread, salt is in almost everything.
But eating too much salt can be harmful. Most people in the U.S. eat more than 3,400 milligrams of salt every day, which is far above the recommended limit of 2,300 milligrams.
Too much salt can raise blood pressure, and over time, this can lead to heart disease, stroke, or even early death.
In response to this health concern, scientists have been looking for a better kind of salt—something that tastes like regular salt but is healthier. Back in 2015, researchers supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) created a new kind of salt. It’s made of 75% sodium chloride (the regular salt we know) and 25% potassium chloride.
This mix keeps the salty flavor people enjoy but includes less sodium, which is the part that raises blood pressure. The added potassium is important because it helps relax blood vessels, which can lower blood pressure. Potassium is a mineral found in foods like bananas, potatoes, and leafy greens.
In 2020, a doctor named Jaime Miranda and his research team tested this new salt in Peru. They wanted to see if replacing regular table salt with this new version could improve health across a whole community. They focused on areas where people had high blood pressure and not much access to doctors or hospitals.
The study took place in Tumbes, a coastal region in northern Peru. Between 2014 and 2017, they worked with six villages and involved 2,376 people, aged from 18 to over 65. Some villages used the new salt, while others continued with regular salt. The goal was to see if this change could make a real difference in everyday life.
The results were promising. People who used the new salt had lower average blood pressure, and there were fewer new cases of high blood pressure. Just a small drop in blood pressure—about 2 mm Hg—can already lower the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
There were also no serious side effects from using the salt substitute, which suggests it is safe for most people.
However, doctors still advise caution for some people. For example, those with kidney disease may not be able to handle too much potassium. That’s why it’s important to talk to a doctor before making big changes to your diet.
Even though this new salt isn’t a cure-all, it could be a big help in fighting high blood pressure. It’s a simple change that many people could make, especially when combined with other healthy habits. For example, following the DASH diet, which focuses on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-salt foods, can also support heart health.
In the end, this new salt could be a small but powerful step in helping people eat better and live longer. It gives hope for a future where enjoying tasty food doesn’t have to come at the cost of our health.
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