For thousands of years, people have used salt to flavor and preserve food. Salt remains a staple in kitchens around the world, but consuming too much salt can increase your risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney disease, and even hasten cognitive decline. To reduce these risks, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that adults consume no more than 5 grams of salt per day.
Much of the salt people consume comes from processed and prepared foods, but added salt at the table still accounts for 6% to 20% of total intake. Researchers know this habit varies between groups of people, but it’s not always clear who is most likely to reach for a salt shaker in different cultural settings.
New research published in frontiers of public health We tried to answer that question among older Brazilians.
“Adding salt to table food is a relatively common habit among older Brazilians, and it occurs more frequently in men than women,” said lead author Dr. Flavia Brito, associate professor at Rio de Janeiro State University.
“However, women’s salt-adding behavior was associated with a wider range of social and dietary characteristics than men’s,” added co-author Dr. Deborah Santos, professor emeritus at Rio de Janeiro State University.
Who is most likely to add salt?
Researchers analyzed survey data collected from more than 8,300 Brazilians aged 60 and older from 2016 to 2017. Participants reported everything they had eaten and drank in the past 24 hours and whether they routinely added salt to the food on their table.
The researchers also looked at several factors that could influence this behavior, including gender, age, education level, household income, living environment, urban or rural residence, and whether participants regularly consumed fruits, vegetables, or ultra-processed foods.
They found that 12.7% of men added extra salt to their diets, compared to 9.4% of women. However, the factors associated with this habit differed significantly between men and women.
“Among men, few variables were associated with salt-adding habits, suggesting that their behavior may not be directly related to specific dietary patterns,” Brito noted.
“On the other hand, women’s salt intake behavior appears to be more closely linked to broader dietary patterns and situational characteristics,” Santos added.
Lifestyle and diet influence salt habits
For men, only two factors were significantly associated with additional salt intake. Men who followed a special diet to manage high blood pressure were less than half as likely to add salt as men who did not follow such a diet. Men who lived alone were 62% more likely to add salt than men who lived with others.
Women showed a more complex pattern. Those not following a high blood pressure diet were 68% more likely to add extra salt. Women living in urban areas were twice as likely, and a similar increase was observed in women who frequently consumed ultra-processed foods.
In contrast, women who regularly ate fruit were 81% less likely to add salt, and women who ate more vegetables were 40% less likely to add salt. The researchers say these findings may reflect a greater focus on overall diet quality, including efforts to limit salt intake.
Why do people reach for salt shakers?
The researchers emphasized that the study did not establish a causal relationship. Some responses may have been inaccurate because participants self-reported their habits. The authors also noted that salt usage patterns may have changed since the study was conducted.
According to the researchers, both taste preferences and long-standing habits can cause the urge to add salt. Regular consumption of high-sodium foods can reduce sensitivity to salty tastes, and some people may prefer stronger salty tastes. But in many cases, adding salt may simply be a routine behavior rather than a reaction to taste.
Reducing overall salt intake will require effort beyond individual choice. The researchers pointed to the need to reduce sodium levels in industrialized and ultra-processed foods, which are the main cause of excessive salt intake.
At the same time, individuals can take practical steps to reduce their own salt use. Because factors associated with salt intake behavior differ between men and women, researchers suggest that public health campaigns should be tailored to specific groups based on gender and lifestyle characteristics.
“Using herbs and natural seasonings as salt substitutes and cooking techniques such as harnessing the acidity of citrus fruits may reduce the use of discretionary salt while preserving the palatability of foods,” Santos concluded. “Practical strategies, such as keeping salt shakers off the table daily, may also help reduce habitual salt use.”
