Patients with hypertension are generally advised to limit their salt intake. However, according to a recent study, the use of a potassium-enriched salt substitute is a safe way to enjoy the flavor without worrying about blood pressure.
Replacing regular salt with a potassium-enriched alternative reduces the chances of high and low blood pressure episodes in people with hypertension, according to findings of a recent study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. The study also revealed that those people who use a salt substitute have a 40% less likelihood of experiencing hypertension compared to regular salt users.
Hypertension is a condition in which a person has higher blood pressure than normal (140/90 mm Hg or higher). It is considered one of the leading risk factors for heart disease, heart attacks, and mortality. Over 1.4 billion adults live with hypertension and the condition causes around 10.8 million deaths per year worldwide.
Although limiting salt intake is the general recommendation for managing hypertension, researchers of the study examined if salt substitutes could offer a better solution. They evaluated the impact of sodium reduction strategies on blood pressure among elderly adults in care facilities in China.
“Our results showcase an exciting breakthrough in maintaining blood pressure that offers a way for people to safeguard their health and minimize the potential for cardiovascular risks, all while being able to enjoy the perks of adding delicious flavor to their favorite meals,” said Yangfeng Wu, the lead author of the study and Executive Director of Peking University Clinical Research Institute in Beijing, China, in a news release.
“Considering its blood pressure – lowering effect, proven in previous studies, the salt substitute shows beneficial to all people, either hypertensive or normotensive, thus a desirable population strategy for prevention and control of hypertension and cardiovascular disease,” Wu said.
The study…
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