A study of 8,300 older adults revealed a surprising salt habit

For thousands of years, people have used salt to flavor and preserve food. While it remains a staple in kitchens around the world, consuming too much salt can increase the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney disease, and even faster cognitive decline. To help reduce these risks, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that adults consume no more than five grams of salt per day.

Although much of the salt people consume comes from processed and prepared foods, adding salt at the table still contributes between 6% and 20% of total intake. Researchers know that this habit varies among different groups of people, but it has not always been clear who is most likely to reach for the saltshaker in different cultural settings.

A new study published in Frontiers in Public Health sought to answer that question among older adults in Brazil.

“Adding salt 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.

Who Is Most Likely To Add Extra Salt?

The researchers analyzed survey data collected between 2016 and 2017 from more than 8,300 Brazilians aged 60 and older. Participants reported everything they had eaten and drunk during the previous 24 hours and answered whether they routinely added salt to food at the table.

The team also examined several factors that could influence this behavior, including sex, age, education level, household income, living arrangements, urban or rural residence, and whether participants regularly consumed fruits, vegetables, or ultra-processed foods.

The results showed that 12.7% of men reported adding extra salt to their meals, compared with 9.4% of women. However, the factors linked to this habit differed significantly between the sexes.

“Among men, few variables were associated with the habit of adding salt, suggesting that their behavior may be less directly related to specific dietary patterns,” Brito pointed out.

“On the other hand, women’s salt-adding behavior appeared to be more closely linked to broader dietary patterns and contextual characteristics,” added Santos.

Lifestyle and Diet Influence Salt Habits

Among men, only two factors were significantly connected to adding extra salt. Men following a special diet to manage high blood pressure were less than half as likely to add salt compared with those who were not following such a diet. Men who lived alone were 62% more likely to add salt than those living with other people.

Women showed a more complex pattern. Those who were not following a diet for high blood pressure had 68% higher odds of adding extra salt. Women living in urban areas were twice as likely to do so, and the same increase was observed among women who frequently consumed ultra-processed foods.

By contrast, women who regularly ate fruits were 81% less likely to add salt, while those who commonly consumed vegetables were 40% less likely to do so. According to the researchers, these findings may reflect greater attention to overall diet quality, including efforts to limit salt intake.

Why Do People Reach for the Saltshaker?

The researchers emphasized that the study does not establish cause-and-effect relationships. Because participants self-reported their habits, some responses may have been inaccurate. The authors also noted that salt-use patterns may have changed since the surveys were conducted.

According to the team, both taste preferences and long-standing habits may drive the urge to add salt. Regular consumption of high-sodium foods can reduce sensitivity to salty flavors, leading some people to prefer stronger levels of saltiness. In many cases, however, adding salt may simply be a routine behavior rather than a response to taste.

Reducing overall salt consumption will likely require efforts beyond individual choices. The researchers pointed to the need for lower sodium levels in industrialized and ultra-processed foods, which are major contributors to excessive salt intake.

At the same time, individuals can take practical steps to reduce their own salt use. Because the factors associated with salt-adding behavior differed between men and women, the researchers suggest that public health campaigns should be tailored to specific groups based on gender and lifestyle characteristics.

“The use of herbs and natural seasonings as alternatives to salt or culinary techniques such as using the acidity of citrus fruits may help reduce discretionary salt use while maintaining food palatability,” concluded Santos. “Practical strategies, such as avoiding the routine placement of saltshakers on the table, may also help reduce habitual salt use.”