Eating too much salt is linked to a thicker heart muscle, more strokes, stiffer blood vessels, and tighter small arteries — all of which can hurt heart health.

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Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

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Community contributions welcome

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Sodium and blood pressure

Narrative Review

Human

2002 Jul

This study found that people who eat a lot of salt (6–12 grams a day) have bigger, stiffer hearts and blood vessels, and more strokes, compared to those who eat very little salt (under 3 grams). So yes, too much salt is bad for your heart and arteries.

Contradicting (0)

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No contradicting evidence found

Gold Standard Evidence Needed

According to GRADE and EBM methodology, here is what ideal scientific evidence would look like to definitively prove or disprove this specific claim, ordered from strongest to weakest evidence.

Source Study

Sodium and blood pressure

Score: 1

DOI: 10.1097/00001573-200207000-00007

Similar Assertions

Even if your blood pressure doesn’t go up, eating too much salt can still make your heart muscle thicker and your arteries stiffer, which is bad for your heart.

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87%

Eating less salt is linked to a lower chance of developing heart disease. This finding is from the abstract summary - full study details were not available

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83%

Cutting back a little on salt — even if you eat a lot now — can help lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart attacks and dying early.

1

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83%

Cutting salt intake even lower, to 3-4 grams per day, may lead to more significant blood pressure reductions. This finding is from the abstract summary - full study details were not available

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80%

Eating too little or too much salt might both be bad for your heart — people who eat way less than 3,000 mg or way more than 6,000 mg of salt a day seem to have a higher chance of heart problems or dying from them.

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78%