A little salt goes a long way to level any type of dish. Unfortunately, although salt in moderation is necessary for your body, too much of it it can quickly become unhealthy and lead to serious heart and health complications. This is why researchers and medical professionals are continually looking for ways to reduce sodium intake and help people take care of their hearts in a more accessible way.
For example, a recent study published in Circulation found that replacing table salt with a salt substitute could help reduce incidents of racecardiovascular events and even death in people who were already at increased risk of these events.
This large cohort study may have a significant impact on the implementation of salt substitutes because not only have they confirmed the health benefits, but researchers have now found that these substitutes could also be extremely cost-effective.
For this study, the researchers followed more than 21,000 adults in rural Chinese villages over a five-year period. All of these study participants had a history of stroke or a history of having high blood pressure at the beginning of the investigation.
Some participants were given the salt substitute to use in their home cooking over a five-year period, while the others were given table salt. This salt substitute looks like table salt, but it has less sodium and is fortified with added potassium.
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According to the report, there were about 3,000 stroke incidents among the participants over the five years. However, participants using the salt substitute had a 14% lower risk of stroke.
While these findings are promising, a report also published in Circulation noted that some research on salt substitutes may be too limited in the population. For example, populations in economically developed regions not only have more accessible health care, but are also easier to monitor over a five-year period compared to those living in the more underdeveloped rural regions of the world.
What these results mean for your health
More research is still needed on the benefits of salt substitutes and how to make them more accessible in everyday diets, but the results of studies like these are promising, especially with salt intake being a major problem for many people.
Although we need a certain amount of salt every day, too much salt in your diet can lead to things like heart disease and stroke. And according to the Center for Disease Control and PreventionThese are some of the leading causes of death in the United States.
a doctor from Harvard Health Journal say what these substitutes can support your heart health by reducing your sodium intake, as well as providing you with much-needed potassium, which many Americans are low in in some way.
If you’re interested in incorporating a salt substitute into your diet, talk to your doctor or nutritionist to make a plan. And for more heart-healthy tips, check out Eating Habits to Follow if Heart Disease Runs in Your Family.
