medicine
Cardiovascular diseases are the most common cause of death worldwide – and mostly due to high blood pressure. Global data now shows that the use of dietary salts has a positive effect on blood pressure. This significantly reduces the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Less sodium, more potassium – that’s according to a recent investigation in the “British Medical Journal” the key to fewer cardiovascular diseases. Because in diet salts, part of the conventional salt (sodium chloride – NaCl) is replaced by potassium chloride (KCl), which results in a reduction in blood pressure.
Almost a year ago is already a Chinese Study appeared that demonstrated a reduced risk of stroke and cardiovascular disease when subjects used dietary salts. Xuejun Yin from George Institute for Global Health and her team are now investigating whether the results of the study apply to the whole world.
In order to obtain meaningful data, the scientists compared 21 studies from all over the world. Result: If the subjects used dietary salts, there were an average of eleven percent fewer heart attacks and strokes. General cardiovascular diseases decreased by 13 percent.
Another strategy: Potassium-rich fruits and vegetables
Like another Study under Liffert Vogt from the Amsterdam University Medical Centers showed a few weeks ago, dietary salts do not necessarily have to be used for better heart health.
According to Vogt, increased potassium intake from fruit and vegetables can balance out excess sodium and also lower blood pressure. Because the potassium in the food leads to a greater excretion of the sodium salts in the urine. This was also confirmed by the current study in connection with salt substitutes.
For the authors around Xuejun Yin, the global study could lead to a rethink in medicine: “The results speak in favor of the strategic use of dietary salts in healthcare to reduce cardiovascular diseases,” says a broadcast on the study.
According to the study, the risk of hyperkalemia, i.e. a harmful excess of potassium in the blood, does not exist if diet salts are used properly.