INFOGRAPHIC

Important Guidance for Limiting Salt

By Amanda Doyle
Reviewed by Claudia Levi, R.N.
November 14, 2024
Did you know? Most adults should limit their sodium intake to 2,300 milligrams (mg) or less per day. That’s a total of about 1 teaspoon of salt. Limiting the salt you eat to 1,500 mg (about ¾ teaspoon) or less per day is even more ideal for protecting heart health. Source: American Heart Association (AHA)

Salt adds flavor to food — and even drinks — but it’s easy to consume too much of it. Extra sodium (salt) in your diet can keep your blood pressure high, which is why heart health experts recommend that most people limit their intake.

The recommended limit is 2,300 milligrams (mg) of sodium per day for all adults, according to the American Heart Association (AHA). Especially for those whose heart health requires cutting back on sodium, it’s ideal to eat 1,500 mg or less per day.

There may be more salt in your food than you realize. Most Americans consume about 3,500 mg of sodium per day. Reducing that amount by 1,000 mg can significantly improve blood pressure and heart health, according to the AHA.

Lowering high blood pressure can help reduce the risk of certain health concerns, including heart attack and stroke.

Ready to cut back on salt? You’re off to a good start if you use the saltshaker sparingly. But it’s also important to read food labels. Most of the salt people eat tends to come from processed or packaged foods and beverages.

Also, talk to your healthcare provider. They may recommend following the DASH diet, which research suggests can help protect or improve heart health by limiting sodium and getting plenty of heart-healthy nutrients. In some cases, blood pressure medication may be prescribed as well.

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