Monday, December 5, 2011

Reactions to Salt Substitute

Potassium that substitutes for sodium in salt substitutes poses certain risks.

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In a quest to cut down on salt intake, you may have opted for a salt substitute, such as LoSalt, without being aware of certain negative fallouts. Salt substitutes are not for everyone. They have the potential to create a negative reaction in certain groups of people. Thus, take the time to ensure you will not suffer any harm from these products before you opt for them.

Related Searches: Cutting Down On Sodium

Considering that salt substitutes help cut down on sodium consumption, they offer benefits to those watching their sodium intake. Some “low sodium” salt substitutes don’t altogether do away with sodium but contain it in a smaller dose of sodium chloride. If you want to cut down on sodium intake and find that salt substitutes pose a risk to you, perhaps you could substitute other herbs and spices, such as garlic, for salt rather than opting for salt substitutes.

Substitution of Potassium

While salt substitutes do cut down your exposure to sodium, they typically substitute potassium chloride for sodium chloride. Potassium has certain beneficial effects, such as helping cut down the risk of stroke and reducing blood pressure levels. Thus, salt substitutes have the dual effect of helping you cut down on sodium consumption while also hiking up your potassium consumption. However, the substitution can also induce harmful reactions in certain people.

Kidney Problems

Those who have certain kidney problems may have a problem getting rid of the excess potassium they have taken in from salt substitutes, potentially leading to a potentially life-threatening condition known as hyperkalaemia. Thus, if you have any kidney-related problems, or if you are on a course of medication for kidney-related issues, check with your physician before opting for a salt substitute.

Other Medical Conditions

Those with diabetes may also be at risk of developing hyperkalaemia from exposure to potassium through the use of a salt substitute. These patients often receive prescriptions for diuretics or for medications such as enzyme inhibitors, either of which can further compound the risk of hyperkalaemia. Older patients with osteoarthritis are also at risk as a result of their use of drugs that combat inflammation. Moreover, these drugs have a tendency to boost potassium levels.

ReferencesBritish Medical Journal: Danger of Salt Substitutes that Contain Potassium in Patients With Renal Failure; C.J. Doorenbos, et al; January 2004Cleveland Clinic; Salt Substitutes: Are they Safe?Photo Credit Hemera Technologies/AbleStock.com/Getty ImagesRead Next:

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