Health expert: Cut down on salt in your diet by turning up the heat

Doctors say eating too much salt can have deleterious effects on some people, but a recent study found a simple trick to cutting back on sodium: turn up the heat.

In addition to adding a kick to meals, spicy foods may give your health a boost, too. A study in the American Heart Association's journal "Hypertension" found people who spiced it up not only preferred less salty food but also ate an estimated half-teaspoon less of salt per day and had lower blood pressure.

A half-teaspoon of salt has 1,150 milligrams of sodium, which is half of the recommended 2,300 mg daily maximum recommended by the American Heart Association. But health experts say 90 percent of us consume more than that, according to Consumer Reports. The magazine found that 71 percent of added salt in diets comes from the packaged and restaurant foods people eat.

"The researchers found that the spiciness from the hot peppers seems to activate a certain part of the brain that perceives saltiness, potentially tricking the brain into thinking that the food was saltier than it was," said Consumer Reports Health Editor Julia Calderone. "Experts think that this might be a good strategy for limiting your salt intake."

Doctors say too much sodium can increase the risk of high blood pressure, which can lead to heart disease, kidney disease and stroke.

Some experts even say spicy food could temporarily boost metabolism.