Salt switch a lifesaver

REPLACING table salt with a reduced-sodium, added-potassium “salt substitute” could prevent millions of deaths each year, new research has found.

Research by the George Institute for Global Health has shown replacing salt with a healthier alternative reduces rates of stroke, heart attack and death. The study enrolled 21,000 adults from 600 villages in China.

Over five years, more than 3000 people had a stroke. For those using the salt substitute, stroke risk was reduced by 14 per cent, total cardiovascular events by 13 per cent and premature death by 12 per cent.