The data of the World Health Organization establish that more than 1.9 million deaths worldwide are due to excessive sodium consumption.
How much salt is too much salt? And the salt we consume is safe enough? The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued the latest guidelines on sodium consumption. The new guidelines talk about replacing regular table savors with K-Salt or potassium chloride. This can help reduce the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure or hypertension.
All about K-Sals
Regular table salts have sodium chloride, but salt or potassium -based substitutes have potassium chloride. A certain evidence suggests that potassium helps reduce blood pressure. Bean, nuts, vegetables, bananas, papaya, there are few good natural potassium sources.
“Low sodium salt substitutes (LSS) are alternative to regular salt. They contain less sodium than regular salt and often include potassium chloride, with or without other agents, to achieve a similar taste to regular salt. The replacement of the sodium chloride with potassium chloride can provide advantages, compared to regular salt, in addition to the sodium reduction effect. The use of LSS is increasingly considered by national health authorities and public health organizations as a possible sodium reduction strategy to reduce blood pressure and ECV risk, and its use is increasing. However, there has been no global orientation about the use of these substitutes. Concerns about the safety of LSS containing potassium have been raised, because a too high level of blood potassium (hypercalemia) can be harmful, especially for people with a deteriorated renal function, ”says the WHO statement.
Who should avoid it?
According to WHO, sodium intake should be reduced to 2 g/day. Guidelines are not yet applicable to children because they are vulnerable age groups. Pregnant women, people with renal disabilities or with other circumstances or conditions that could compromise potassium excretion should also take adequate medical consultation before making significant changes.