March 22, 2024 — Although some researchers disagree on recommended limits for sodium intake, most Americans consume too much of it in their diets, which increases the risk of high blood pressure and heart disease. I agree that it is elevated.

The federal government’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends that adults consume no more than 2,300 milligrams per day, which is the equivalent of about 1 teaspoon of table salt.

Cutting back can be difficult, and it’s hard to know if you’re over the limit. But reducing sodium is probably beneficial for most people, said Frank Hu, Fredrick J. Steer Professor of Nutrition and Epidemiology and chair of the Department of Nutrition at Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health, in a March 19 As stated in the New York Times article. .

He and other experts cited in the article suggest focusing on cooking at home instead of eating processed foods and restaurant meals, which tend to have more salt in your diet. . They also include foods that are low in sodium and rich in potassium, such as vegetables, fruits, beans, and nuts, which are part of a healthy eating pattern like the Mediterranean diet, which helps remove excess sodium from the body. Recommended to eat more. blood.

The effects of excess sodium on the body are cumulative, so don’t wait until you have high blood pressure to start improving, experts say in the article. Hu added: “Prevention is certainly much better than cure.”

Read the New York Times article: Answering your questions about sodium