Spilled salt next to a salt shaker

Salt and Your Health

Angie SzumlinskiNews

We all know that person, the one who sits down at the table for dinner, puts food on their plate and immediately reaches for the saltshaker. They don’t stop to taste the food first, they don’t ask if the food was salted during preparation, they simply proceed to sprinkle the pretty, sparkly substance on their food!

It is hard to determine how much of this is habit and how much is the need for the sodium. Studies have shown that some people actually have depleted levels of sodium however my guess is that increasing the use of table salt isn’t the answer! I personally love salty foods, specifically salty, crispy food (if potato chips are considered food). That said, we have all heard the health risks associated with having too much sodium in our diets, heart disease, strokes, etc. so what are we to do?

For those “salt-a-holics” out there, a glimmer of good news! A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that salt substitutes with reduced sodium levels and increased potassium levels have been shown to lower blood pressure! For people with a history of stroke or those over the age of 60 with high blood pressure, the rates of stroke, major cardiovascular events, and death from any cause were lower with the salt substitute than with regular salt.

Is it time to meet Mrs. Dash? Maybe! There are tons of alternatives on the market, sure, they don’t always taste the same as “real salt” but if you look at the benefits, maybe it is time to make some healthier choices! Stay well, stay informed, and stay tuned!