Sarcocornia perennis: A Salt Substitute in Savory Snacks

Abstract

Salt is the primary source of sodium in the human diet, and it is associated with hypertension and increased risk of heart disease and stroke. A growing interest in halophyte plants and food products containing this type of ingredient have been observed, to reduce the NaCl daily intake. In the present work, Sarcocornia perennis was incorporated as a food ingredient into crackers to replace the salt (NaCl) and to evaluate its impact on physical properties, water activity, nutritional composition, mineral profile, total phenolic compounds, antioxidant activity, and sensory evaluation. Concentrations of powder dried S. perennis from 1 to 10% were tested by replacing the initial salt content and adjusting the flour incorporation to the initial formulation. The incorporation of S. perennis had no relevant impact on cracker firmness, but it induced an increase in their crispness. Furthermore, the incorporation of this halophyte originated darker crackers, which was revealed by a decrease of L* and an increase of b* values. In terms of nutritional composition, the incorporation of S. perennis leads to the improvement of the snack’s nutritional profile, namely in terms of phenolic compounds, antioxidant activity, and minerals, highlighting the high content in potassium, magnesium, and phosphor. Crackers with a content of 5% of S. perennis were sensorily well accepted and this level should be considered the limit of incorporation accepted by the panelists. However, by substituting 1% NaCl for an equal amount of S. perennis, it is possible to obtain a 70% reduction in sodium content, which is an important contribution to reducing the overall salt content of the diet.

Randomized Pilot Study on the Effects of Sarcocornia as a Salt Substitute in Arterial Blood Pressure and Vascular Function in Healthy Young Adults

“…In this study, the daily saline excretion between groups was also compared at the two assessment times, and through its results we can observe a significant reduction in the levels of sodium in the urine of individuals belonging to the intervention group. Several studies have indicated that Sarcocornia is a halophyte rich in minerals such as magnesium and potassium, which improve the body’s sodium excretion, thus supporting the data obtained in the present investigation [ 18 , 22 ].…”

“…Although salt (sodium chloride) plays an important role as a fluid regulator in our body, there are several studies that point to its harmful effects on the cardiovascular level when consumed in excess. A series of research works have been carried out in search of a substitute for common salt in order to try to reduce its consumption [ 2 , 7 , 9 , 15 , 20 , 22 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 ]. Halophyte plants, such as Salicornia and Sarcocornia, prove to be a promising substitute, given that they are plants with antihypertensive characteristics [ 15 , 35 ].…”

“…Halophyte plants, such as Salicornia and Sarcocornia, prove to be a promising substitute, given that they are plants with antihypertensive characteristics [ 15 , 35 ]. Their high content of minerals such as potassium and magnesium favors saline excretion, reducing the negative effects of sodium on the cardiovascular system and the human body in general [ 18 , 22 , 35 ]. These plants are part of the native Portuguese flora and grow in abundance in coastal salt pans, which gives them a salty taste favorable to the adaptation of the palate [ 7 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 33 ].…”

“…In summary, based on the results of the present study, the consumption of Sarcocornia is beneficial to the cardiovascular system at several levels: attenuation of blood pressure values, decreased arterial stiffness, improved left ventricular function and coronary perfusion. This halophyte and similar species have already been tested and approved in the production of several processed foods, namely ham, snacks, sausages, and bread [ 7 , 22 , 34 , 37 ], since these are the foods that contain the highest sodium content. Sarcocornia can therefore be considered a good substitute for common table salt to try to reduce the prevalence of HT and deaths from cardiovascular causes, although further studies should be carried out to investigate the remaining species of this plant and also to evaluate the amount ideal to be ingested, since its excessive consumption may cause possible harmful effects or even influence some types of medication [ 38 ].…”

“…Sarcocornia perennis ( Figure 2 ) was provided by the Salina Greens company (Alcochete, Setúbal, Portugal). The nutritional and mineral composition of dried Sarcocornia perennis (powder) can be found elsewhere [ 17 , 22 ] and are summarized in Table 1 .…”