Healthier salt could reduce risk of heart disease death

Key Points:

• New research suggests that replacing ordinary table salt with potassium-enriched salt could prevent millions of deaths annually from heart and kidney diseases worldwide.
• Potassium-enriched salt reduces sodium intake while increasing potassium, which helps lower blood pressure by promoting sodium excretion and relaxing blood vessels.
• A global study estimated that replacing all salt with potassium-enriched salt could prevent nearly 3 million deaths yearly and reduce over 10 million new cases of ischemic heart disease, hypertensive heart disease, stroke, and chronic kidney disease.
• Partial substitution of salt, such as only at home or replacing 20-50% of salt intake, still offers significant health benefits, preventing hundreds of thousands to over a million deaths annually.
• While potassium-enriched salt costs more and is not suitable for individuals with certain kidney conditions or medications, health experts recommend those with high blood pressure consult their doctors before making the switch, using a 75% salt and 25% potassium chloride mix as a direct replacement.