Question 397 of 433
Should I cut salt? What about salt substitutes?
The short answer
Most people should eat less sodium and more potassium. Potassium-enriched salt substitutes reduced strokes and deaths in a large trial.
In a study of 21,000 people in rural China, replacing regular salt with a blend containing 25 percent potassium chloride lowered strokes by 14 percent and deaths by 12 percent. Most sodium comes from restaurant and packaged food, not the shaker. Potassium-rich foods include beans, potatoes, bananas, leafy greens, and yogurt.
People with kidney disease or on certain blood pressure medicines must not use potassium salt without medical approval.
“This book is for education. It is not medical advice, and reading it does not make you my patient or create a doctor-patient relationship.” From the book’s medical disclaimer. Full disclaimer
HUMAN TRIAL — High-risk rural Chinese adults: potassium salt substitution reduced events; kidney function and medications affect safety.Evidence grade (draft mapping)Grade pendingPart 27, Q397 · Part sources
From Longevity Unmasked by Afshine Ash Emrani, MD, FACC. Medical disclaimer. This book is for education. It is not medical advice, and reading it does not make you my patient or create a doctor-patient relationship. Nothing here is meant to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Medicine is personal: a test, drug, supplement, or exercise plan that helps one person can harm another. Do not start, stop, or change any medication or treatment because of something you read in these pages. Talk with a licensed clinician who knows your history first. If you think you are having a medical emergency, call 911. The author disclaims responsibility for any loss or harm arising from use of the information in this book.