Is low sodium salt really effective?
In Israel, there are some low-sodium salt substitute, which brag to have "60% less sodium than regular salt".
I suspect that there's a catch. I strongly suspect that indeed they contain 60% less sodium than the regular salt, however, you need to add 60% (or 50%, but a larger amount) more of the salt-subtitute to get the same taste.
Is that true? Did anyone else think about that?
Best Answer
I'd say that's not strictly true,mostly because no salt substitute I've ever seen can get the same taste anyway.
"Real" salt is sodium chloride (and maybe iodine, or minor impurities if it's sea salt). Most salt substitutes are partly or mostly potassium chloride. This is technically a salt (chemically speaking) and does have a similar salty taste, but it doesn't taste quite like sodium chloride, and can be bitter or metallic-tasting. Some salt substitutes add herbs or other things to help make the potassium chloride more palatable. Sounds like your has some "regular" salt as well, if it's got a significant sodium content.
So while you are right that there's likely a "catch," it's more likely to be that your salt substitute will never taste quite right, or will be bitter, and less likely that you'll be piling loads of extra on in an effort to get the right saltiness.
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It proves that low-sodium salts prevent heart attacks and strokes, and are an acceptable replacement that can be easily adapted to most people's diets. Further, the study found no increased risk of serious adverse events.Is low-sodium salt any good?
A recent systematic review compared the use of low-sodium salt substitutes to normal salt. The review found that these salt substitutes may lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure, both in people with normal and high blood pressure.Is Lo salt better than salt?
Potassium salt The most widely available and used product is Lo Salt. Potassium salts have up to 70% less sodium than standard table salt so do not carry the same high risks as sodium based salts. Potassium salts may even have a beneficial effect on your blood pressure because potassium is an antagonist of sodium.Does low-sodium salt help blood pressure?
In several risk populations, low-sodium salt substitutes in comparison with normal salt intake were associated with significant reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressure. No effects were found for detected hypertension, overall mortality and intermediate outcomes.Which is better low-sodium or reduced sodium?
A one cup serving of Swanson's Chicken Broth has 860mg sodium, so a reduced-sodium version could have up to as much as 645 mg sodium! Not the best choice. Low-sodium: means that the food has less than 140mg sodium per serving. So a one cup serving should be 140mg or lower \u2013 a much healthier choice!How is it Possible to make 'Low Sodium' Salt? | Food Unwrapped
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Answer 2
See the wikipedia article on salt substitutes:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt#Salt_substitutes
They use strongly salty-tasting chemicals that aren't sodium chloride (but may or may not be more healthy, depending on what serious diseases are forcing you to reduce your salt intake).
Answer 3
If one adds salt by volume to dishes, low salt sodium helps, since each tsp, for instance, contains less sodium than normal salt. If one adds till something tastes right, then it doesn't help since one would have added more tsps of it thus adding more sodium. Regular salt would have worked just as well. It is a little bit like keeping you clock ten minutes ahead. When you look at it, you are likely to react to the displayed time even though you know that you have kept it ahead. (Stimulus control.)
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