Reducing Sodium to Improve Health

Consuming too much sodium puts millions of Americans’ health at risk.  The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, issued by the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Agriculture, recommend that Americans consume less than 2,300 mg of sodium per day. On average, U.S. adults consume twice that. A diet high in sodium increases the risk of high blood pressure. This puts people at risk for heart attack and stroke, which are the first and third leading causes of death for U.S. men and women. In 2009, the estimated medical and loss of productivity costs related to high blood pressure were $73.4 billion.