High blood pressure is a major health problem in Australia, and eating too much regular salt while not getting enough potassium makes it worse. Doctors in Australia have released new guidance suggesting that people with high blood pressure could try switching their regular table salt to a special potassium-enriched salt. This salt has less sodium (the harmful part of regular salt) and more potassium (which is good for your heart). The switch is simple, affordable, and could help many people lower their blood pressure without needing to completely change their diet. However, people with kidney problems need to be careful and check with their doctor first.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether switching from regular salt to potassium-enriched salt could help people with high blood pressure
  • Who participated: This is a position statement from Australian health experts reviewing existing research, not a study with participants
  • Key finding: Potassium-enriched salt (made of about 75% regular salt and 25% potassium) appears to be an effective, affordable way to help lower blood pressure by reducing sodium intake while increasing potassium intake
  • What it means for you: If you have high blood pressure and add salt to your food, you could try making a simple 1-to-1 swap to potassium-enriched salt. However, if you have kidney disease or take certain medications, talk to your doctor first to make sure it’s safe for you

The Research Details

This is not a traditional research study but rather a position statement—a document where expert doctors and health organizations share their professional recommendations based on reviewing existing research. The Australian Hypertension Society and National Hypertension Taskforce looked at decades of scientific evidence about how salt and potassium affect blood pressure. They examined what the World Health Organization recommends and considered what would work best for Australian patients. The experts then created clear guidance that doctors can use when talking to patients about managing high blood pressure.

Position statements are important because they help doctors know what the latest science says and give them clear recommendations to share with patients. This approach is valuable because potassium-enriched salt is simple, inexpensive, and doesn’t require people to completely change their eating habits—they just swap one product for another

This recommendation comes from respected Australian health organizations and is based on decades of global research. The statement is careful to note who should and shouldn’t use potassium-enriched salt, which shows the experts are thinking about safety. However, because this is a position statement rather than a new research study, it’s based on reviewing other people’s research rather than conducting a new experiment

What the Results Show

The expert panel found strong evidence that eating too much sodium (from regular salt) and not enough potassium are major reasons why people develop high blood pressure. They reviewed research showing that potassium-enriched salt can help lower blood pressure by doing two things at once: reducing the harmful sodium while increasing the beneficial potassium. The recommended potassium-enriched salt contains about 75% regular salt and 25% potassium chloride, which makes it a practical swap that people can easily make in their kitchens. The experts believe this simple change could help many Australians manage their blood pressure without needing to take more medications or make drastic diet changes.

The statement emphasizes that the best approach still includes eating more fruits and vegetables (which naturally contain potassium) and limiting salt added during cooking and at the table. The experts recommend that people get their kidney function checked before switching to potassium-enriched salt to make sure it’s safe for them. They also note that this strategy could be especially helpful for people who find it difficult to make bigger dietary changes

This recommendation aligns with what the World Health Organization has been suggesting globally. The Australian experts are now formally endorsing this approach for their country, which helps doctors feel confident recommending it to patients. This builds on decades of research showing that sodium and potassium balance is crucial for heart health

This is a position statement based on reviewing existing research, not a new study with participants, so it doesn’t provide brand-new data. The experts call for more research specifically looking at how potassium-enriched salt works in people with kidney disease and in people taking different blood pressure medications. They also note that not everyone has been screened for whether potassium-enriched salt would be safe for them, so more information is needed about broader use in the general population

The Bottom Line

If you have high blood pressure and regularly add salt to your food, talk to your doctor about switching to potassium-enriched salt (with about 75% sodium chloride and 25% potassium chloride). Make sure your doctor checks your kidney function first. This recommendation has moderate to strong evidence supporting it based on decades of research. Continue eating plenty of fruits and vegetables and limiting salt overall—the potassium-enriched salt is an additional helpful tool, not a replacement for these habits

People with high blood pressure who add salt to their food should consider this option. People with kidney disease, those taking potassium supplements, or those on certain blood pressure medications (potassium-sparing diuretics) should NOT make this switch without talking to their doctor first. Anyone unsure about their kidney health should get it checked before trying potassium-enriched salt

Blood pressure changes can take several weeks to months to become noticeable. You might see improvements within 4-12 weeks if you consistently use potassium-enriched salt along with other healthy habits like eating more fruits and vegetables and reducing overall salt intake

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track your daily salt intake by logging when you use potassium-enriched salt versus regular salt, and note any home blood pressure readings you take (if you monitor at home). Record this weekly to see if there’s a pattern of improvement
  • Set a reminder to check your pantry and replace your regular salt container with potassium-enriched salt. Log this change in the app as a completed action, then track how consistently you use it over the next month
  • Create a weekly check-in to log your blood pressure readings (if you have a home monitor) and note how often you used potassium-enriched salt that week. Set a monthly reminder to review your kidney function test results with your doctor to ensure the change is safe for you

This position statement is based on expert review of existing research and is not a substitute for personalized medical advice. Before switching to potassium-enriched salt, you must consult with your doctor, especially if you have kidney disease, take potassium supplements, use certain blood pressure medications, or have other health conditions. Your doctor should check your kidney function before you make this change. This information is for educational purposes and should not replace professional medical guidance from your healthcare provider.