The Chinese Salt Substitute

Filed in archive Studies on March 21, 2006

A salt substitute (formulated to taste like salt but with low sodium content) is as effective as drugs at reducing high blood pressure, according to a Northern China research study.

Although the World Health Organization recommends only no more than 6 grams of salt a day, Northern China's daily salt intake is 15-15 grams. High intake of salt is the main contributor to high blood pressure which leads to more strokes and heart attacks which are the main causes of death in China.

As announced during the March 15 American College of Cardiology's 55th annual scientific meeting in Atlanta, USA, the researchers found that eating the said salt substitute significantly reduced blood pressure in a study of 600 Chinese consumers.

The salt substitute costs twice as much as ordinary salt but the health benefits are worth the extra cost according to Zhao Liancheng, a professor of cardiology at Beijing Fuwai Hospital who led the study.

Although not much has been said yet about the salt substitute, the world can truly benefit with China's findings.

Source: [Sciedev.Net]