Go easy on the salt if you want to keep your heart healthy!

A study conducted in 600 villages of China revealed that switching from table salt to other substitutes can help reduce the risk of stroke in people. The substitute was about 75 percent sodium chloride and 25 percent potassium chloride as a replacement for regular salt.

The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine included nearly 21,000 participants. Of them, about 72 percent had a history of stroke, and 88 percent had a history of high blood pressure.

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The study indicated that participants who were above 60 years of age and had a history of high blood pressure reported a lower incidence of heart ailments. This was a direct result of using salt substitutes than regular salt.

But, Minneapolis-based cardiologist Dr. Elizabeth Klodas pointed that the study particularly aimed to observe populations with a high risk of cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, she added that these findings may not be applicable to the younger population who do not have any heart disorders.

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