If you want to improve your heart health, it’s time to limit your salt intake. Find out why you should consume salt substitutes for your heart instead of salt.
Even though the American Heart Association (AHA) recommends a maximum salt consumption of 2,300 mg per day, the average American consumes more than twice that amount. If you want to improve your heart health, you likely need to limit your salt intake – but that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice flavor.
Instead, you can use healthy salt substitutes when making your own food and choose healthier food options. The following is an overview of why salt substitutes can help your heart health and a list of the ones you can use instead of salt.
Salt Substitutes vs. Salt
Salt has been linked to various cardiovascular conditions including high blood pressure (hypertension). However, a recent review appearing in the online journal Heart shows that salt substitutes may lower the risk of heart attack, stroke, and death from all causes. Their findings also show that reducing salt intake and switching to a salt substitute lowers blood pressure regardless of location, age, sex, weight, or history of hypertension.
Healthy Salt Substitutes
While there are products on the market specifically called “salt substitutes”, you can add more flavor to your food by choosing herbs and spices to replace salt. For example, you can try citrus fruits, chilis, cayenne pepper, rosemary, thyme, paprika, garlic, onion, basil, and cumin.
All of these can add a variety of flavors to your dishes while also helping to keep your sodium levels low. For instance, while lemons and limes can add a bright taste to your dishes, cumin can be great for Mexican and Middle Eastern dishes.
Salt and Your Health
Sodium is an important part of a balanced diet due to the role it plays in nerve and muscle function. However, too much sodium intake can pull water into your blood vessels and increase the volume and pressure.
In the long term, high blood pressure can damage blood vessels, which results in poor circulation that affects your heart’s function. As a result, blood may not reach your heart effectively, leading to a damaged heart and increasing the risk of a cardiovascular event.
Improving Your Heart Health
If you love eating salty foods, whether it’s in the form of fast food, frozen foods, or any other processed foods, then it’s time to start changing your diet. You can start by making gradual changes if it helps to limit your salt intake in the long run.
In addition to cooking at home and using salt substitutes, you can give your heart health an extra boost by taking supplements like HeartBeet Complete. Its ingredients promote circulation, blood pressure health, energy levels, and more. Give your heart the support it deserves by limiting your salt consumption and taking HeartBeet Complete.
