Cutting back on salt is necessary for some but maybe not all

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

Salt limitation depends on the individual - some need less than others.
We all know that excessive salt consumption is linked to high blood pressure and therefore to increased heart attack and stroke risk. But there is some confusion about how low you need to go to get the benefits of salt reduction. Doctors at Harvard Medical School are advising against the 'one size fits all' blanket recommendation on salt. If you are under 50, have blood pressure within a normal range and good health, then you have little to fear from salt.

However, if you are over 50, of African-American descent or have high blood pressure or diabetes, then you have much to gain from limiting sodium intake to no more than 2,300 to 2,400 milligrams per day. If you have heart failure or kidney disease, then lower this to 2,000 milligrams per day. Three quarters of daily salt intake comes from prepared or processed food. So be diligent about reading food labels, ask about salt usage when eating out, and limit use of canned, processed and frozen foods. In your own kitchen, use herbs and spices rather than salt to flavor foods.

Source
Harvard Health Letter November 2006