Here's What You Can Substitute For Salt

Salt is considered a seasoning staple in many, if not most, of the world's cuisines. But for some people adding salt to their dishes simply isn't an option. According to the American Heart Association, it can be helpful for those suffering from ailments such as high blood pressure to cut salt out of their diet. These people are left with the question: How do I replace something as simple and essential as salt in the kitchen?

Luckily, there are a host of options for chefs who have removed salt from their pantries. The chemical makeup of salt is sodium chloride, and the element in salt which causes the body's blood pressure to rise is sodium (via The Heart Foundation). The element on the periodic table closest to sodium is potassium, and this got food scientists thinking. Eventually, companies already established in the salt industry such as Morton developed a salt substitute using potassium chloride instead of sodium chloride (via Cleveland Clinic). If you're the type that can't tell the difference between Pepsi and Coke, perhaps a switch from sodium chloride to potassium chloride will work for you.

There are some, however, who say that there is no substitute for the real thing. If you choose to forgo salt and imitation salt altogether, one of the best alternatives to salt is a salt-free herb blend. While these are certainly available for purchase at the grocery store under a number of different brands, you can also make them at home. Ingredients in salt-free herb blends often include (but are certainly not limited to): celery seed, red pepper, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, orange peel, parsley and thyme (via AllRecipes). Whether you use a store-bought or homemade blend, your food will be packed with so many different flavors that you won't even miss salt.

An added bonus of this solution is that if there are still members of your household who are choosing to eat salt, they can use both salt as well as the herb mix to season their food, which will make for a nice blend.