Sodium

As explained above, excess sodium in the diet has been linked to high blood pressure, so people with this ailment are generally advised to reduce their sodium intake. Salt is the primary source of sodium in the diet. Most of a person’s salt intake, however, does not come from baked goods and desserts but rather from main courses, side dishes, and salty snacks. Some people are on salt-free diets, so reducing or eliminating salt in desserts and pastries may be advised for them and can be done with only a small effect on flavor. For most people, however, this change will have only a small effect on total sodium intake. Be careful, also, when reducing the salt content of yeast breads, as one of the functions of salt is to regulate yeast activity.