Salt is so pervasive, our entire food supply is so loaded with salt, that trying to reduce your sodium intake can seem almost impossible. So it is not surprising that many people have turned to a salt substitute products for help. Most salt substitutes make use of potassium chloride, which has a taste very much like sodium chloride - aka salt.
There is some evidence that switching to a substitute can lower your blood pressure as well as lower your risk of heart attack and stroke. Many people are deficient in dietary potassium, which helps regulate nerve impulses, metabolism, and blood pressure, so potassium-based salt substitutes can help there as well. But the news is not all good.
If your blood potassium level gets too high it can produce a number of problems. Having too much potassium in your blood is known as hyperkalemia, which can lead to complications in your heart and other areas of your body. The symptoms of high potassium may be unnoticeable to you. You may only find out that you have hyperkalemia after routine blood tests.
A better approach would be to cut back on processed and restaurant foods, which supply over 70% of the sodium in the American diet. That's right, most sodium does not come from your salt shaker. If you still think a salt substitute would benefit you, talk with your healthcare provider about the pros and cons.
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