If people with high blood pressure switch to a low-sodium salt for three years, their top blood pressure number (systolic) tends to go down—but their genes don’t seem to change how much their bottom number (diastolic) changes.

For people with high blood pressure, using a special low-sodium salt for three years might lower their systolic blood pressure more than regular salt—especially if they have certain genes that make them more likely to have high blood pressure. The drop is about 9.2 points on average.

Eating less salt can help lower your blood pressure a little bit — on average, by about 3-4 points for the top number and 1-2 points for the bottom number, based on studies of many different people.

Most people over 50 — even those with normal blood pressure or on blood pressure pills — see their blood pressure drop when they eat less salt.

Eating less salt can lower your blood pressure a little bit, and that might help keep your heart healthier and prevent heart problems.

Eating too much salt might raise your blood pressure, but we’re not sure if cutting back on salt actually helps prevent heart problems because no big, fair studies have proven it yet.