Excess salt intake is linked to a range of chronic conditions and even cognitive decline, yet patterns of discretionary salt use remain poorly understood across populations.
It has been used for thousands of years to flavor and preserve food. But modern diets often push intake far beyond healthy limits, raising the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney problems, and even faster cognitive decline. Health experts advise keeping daily intake below five grams (about one teaspoon), yet many people exceed that threshold without realizing it.
One often overlooked source is the salt added at the table, making up about 6-20% of total intake. This habit varies across social and demographic groups, yet it is not always clear who is most likely to add extra salt in different settings. To explore this, researchers in Brazil conducted a study published in Frontiers in Public Health focusing on older adults.
“Adding It to food at the table remains a relatively common habit among Brazilian older adults and occurs more frequently among men than among women,” said first author Dr. Flávia Brito, an associate professor at Rio de Janeiro State University.
“Women’s salt-adding behavior, however, was associated with a wider range of social and dietary characteristics than men’s,” added co-author Dr. Débora Santos, a titular professor at Rio de Janeiro State University.
The researchers analyzed survey data collected in 2016 and 2017 from more than 8,300 Brazilians aged 60 and older. Participants reported what they ate in the previous 24 hours and whether they regularly added salt at the table. The team also examined factors such as sex, age group, education level, living situation, income, location, and consumption of ultra-processed foods, fruits, and vegetables.
Overall, 12.7% of men and 9.4% of women said they added salt to their meals. The factors linked to this behavior differed between men and women.
