Salt Your Pasta… or Not

I always check the sodium content on my bag of chips, panic a little, then finish the whole bag in one sitting anyway.

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By Daphne Lee, News Editor I always check the sodium content on my bag of chips, panic a little, then finish the whole bag in one sitting anyway. I convince myself that it's fine if I just use less salt or a low-sodium soy sauce for home cooked meals. Today's Top Story Salt Substitutes May Lower Stroke Risk Replacing table salt with a salt substitute may lower the risk of stroke and heart disease, according to a large study conducted in rural China. In the long run, it can even save you money on healthcare expenses because you'll have a better quality of life.   The salt substitute used in the study contained 75% sodium and 25% potassium. In the United States, salt substitutes often contain only potassium and no sodium.   Potassium is an essential mineral that helps regulate heartbeat and blood pressure. But having excessive potassium can also cause heart problems.   Some experts think that achieving a balance of sodium and potassium is a major factor in preventing heart disease. But it's not always easy to convince the general population to eat enough potassium-rich vegetables like avocados, so dietary guidelines lean toward cutting sodium instead. Know More This study focused on older adults who cooked most of their meals. Their sodium intake largely came from using seasoning and eating preserved foods at home. In the U.S., the problem is different. Americans consume most of their sodium from packaged foods and dining out. So the solution could be cutting back on takeout rather than using a salt substitute at home. Feel Better The American Heart Association currently recommends a daily sodium intake of 2,300 mg for adults, but the goal is to reduce it further to fewer than 1,500 mg per day. Based on this standard, 1 tsp of table salt a day would already exceed the recommended limit. Here are some extra tips on cutting back on salt in your diet. READ MORE Sodium content can vary greatly within the same food categories, so choose wisely and check the nutrition labels. Sometimes foods that don't taste salty have very high sodium content. Look for labels that say "no salt added" or "low sodium." More Omicron Subvariants Are Circulating More than 70 Omicron subvariants have been recorded. A new one called BA.2.12.1 now accounts for one in five COVID-19 cases in the country. In some states, such as New York, BA.2.12.1 has already overtaken BA.2 because of its transmission advantage. While these subvariants are new, they're milder versions of previous strains, and the tools for protection remain the same: vaccination, testing, and masking indoors. READ MORE Mask Mandate Drama Continues Yesterday, the Department of Justice appealed the court ruling that threw out CDC's mask mandate. But for now, many travel authorities and airlines have dropped their mask requirements. The White House said this is an effort to preserve CDC's authority to enact public health orders in the future. If the case ends up in the Supreme Court—and if the court upholds the decision to strike down mask mandates—it could further damage CDC's authority. READ MORE   Bananas are not the only fruit rich in potassium, according to Barbie Cervoni MS, RD. Fruits that are high in potassium include bananas, oranges, avocado, cantaloupe, and kiwifruit. And don't overlook dried fruit. One cup of dried apricots, for example, contains about 1,500 mg of potassium. Barbie Cervoni, MS, RD Registered Dietitian   In Other News   ■ We're in the Midst of a White-Collar Crime Wave. The Nation     ■ The Judge Who Tossed Mask Mandate Misunderstood Public Health Law. NPR     ■ Everything We Know About COVID Transmission on Planes. Slate More From Verywell Sodium Levels Predict Risk of COVID-19 Complications READ MORE Low Sodium Is a Rare Problem READ MORE The Pros and Cons of Calcium Supplements READ MORE   How'd we do? If you have any feedback, send us a note at   feedback@verywell.com.         You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the Verywell Health newsletter. If you wish to unsubscribe, please click here.   A DOTDASH MEREDITH BRAND 28 Liberty Street, 7th Floor, New York, NY, 10005   © 2022 verywellhealth.com - All rights reserved. Privacy Policy