Should most people eat less salt?
Sodium, Blood Pressure, and Cardiovascular Disease: Further Evidence Supporting the American Heart Association Sodium Reduction Recommendations
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Some studies suggesting low sodium intake might be harmful are being dismissed as methodologically flawed by leading health experts.
This contradicts growing public skepticism about salt reduction, fueled by media reports claiming 'salt isn’t so bad after all' — but experts say those conclusions are based on shaky science.
Practical Takeaways
Aim to keep your daily sodium intake under 1500 mg to support long-term heart health, especially if you have high blood pressure or a family history of heart disease.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Some studies suggesting low sodium intake might be harmful are being dismissed as methodologically flawed by leading health experts.
This contradicts growing public skepticism about salt reduction, fueled by media reports claiming 'salt isn’t so bad after all' — but experts say those conclusions are based on shaky science.
Practical Takeaways
Aim to keep your daily sodium intake under 1500 mg to support long-term heart health, especially if you have high blood pressure or a family history of heart disease.
Publication
Journal
Circulation
Year
2012
Authors
P. Whelton, L. Appel, R. Sacco, C. Anderson, E. Antman, N. Campbell, S. Dunbar, E. Frohlich, J. Hall, M. Jessup, D. Labarthe, G. MacGregor, F. Sacks, J. Stamler, D. Vafiadis, L. V. Van Horn
Related Content
Claims (4)
Eating less than 1500 mg of salt a day might help keep your heart healthy and lower your chances of getting high blood pressure, according to the American Heart Association.
Some recent studies say cutting salt might not help, but they have big flaws—so we probably shouldn't change public health advice based on them.
Even though some new studies are questioning it, experts still have good reason to believe that eating less salt is a smart move for most people in the U.S.
Eating more salt raises your blood pressure in a straight-line way because it makes your body hold onto more water, which increases the amount of fluid in your blood vessels.