Making Sense of the Salt Debate

High blood pressure (hypertension) is a risk factor that contributes to heart attack, stroke and kidney disease. A diet low in sodium (the main ingredient in salt) can help prevent hypertension. The question is, how little sodium should you consume?For decades, it has been known that blood pressure starts to rise when sodium consumption exceeds 2,300 mg/day. This has led most U.S. and European societies to set the upper limit of sodium consumption at 2,300 mg/day.