It has long been established that we ought to limit our sodium intake. Nu-Tek Food Science is hoping to play with that rule of thumb using a healthy salt substitute.

"The over-consumption of sodium is a leading culprit in fueling high blood pressure, which is a primary risk factor for heart disease and stroke," said Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Heart Association, who has called for a gradual reduction of salt.

With a 2009 study, published in the International Journal of Epidemiology, that indicated high sodium intake is globally ubiquitous, Nu-Tek has established its substitute at an ideal time.

Like many substitutes, such as those for sugar, which have recently gained popularity, Nu-Tek Salt serves to provide a 1:1 replacement of regular table salt for their product. However, given the intensity of the product's flavoring, the product helps to reduce salt consumption by 25 to 50 percent.

Its secret lies in the contents of its compound.

Table salt is made up of a compound called sodium chloride. When sodium chloride enters the body, it's easily broken down and utilized by the body. However, Nu-Tek's salt, or Nut-Tek Potassium Chloride (NPC), is made up of potassium chloride compounds instead.

While potassium chloride is still naturally occurring, the body has fewer uses for the potassium than the sodium and so absorbs it at a lower rate. And the few uses the body does have for potassium are positive. Potassium has been found to reduce the risk for cardiovascular disease, while sodium in regular salt tends to increase that risk.

NPC has been approved for use in a variety of foods, like meats and baked goods, and works well if you want to sprinkle a little salt into soup or over fries. For those who can't quite let go of true salt, Nu-Tek offers its NPC blended into either sea or regular salt.

Nu-Tek's approach is commendable - so much so that Bill Gates has backed many efforts to help people gravitate toward salt substitutes and away from unhealthy and traditional salt.