5. Commercial Salt Substitutes
Many older adults turn to commercial salt substitutes to reduce their daily sodium intake. However, manufacturers routinely replace sodium chloride with concentrated potassium chloride to deliver a familiar salty flavor.
Impaired kidneys cannot efficiently excrete surplus potassium, causing blood levels to rise above safe thresholds. Serum potassium exceeding 5.0 mmol/L creates an immediate danger of life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias.
Season your food with citrus juices, garlic powder, onion flakes, or dried herbs rather than chemical substitutes.
