If healthy adults eat the typical high amount of salt found in processed foods, their body shows lower levels of important proteins that help control blood pressure and fight inflammation — compared to eating almost no salt at all.

Eating very little salt might raise levels of certain proteins in your blood that are linked to inflammation and blood pressure control, compared to eating a lot of salt—especially in people with normal blood pressure.

Eating a lot of salt—like most people do today—might raise levels of certain proteins in your blood that are linked to heart and blood vessel damage, compared to eating very little salt like people did long ago.

When you eat almost no salt, your body may overwork a system that controls blood pressure, making your blood vessels tighter and raising your risk of heart problems.