Search Here

Too much salt intake has been linked to high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) director Thomas Frieden announced in a statement that Americans consume too much salt and this could be detrimental to their health.

Salt Intake and High Blood Pressure

Too much salt intake can lead to high blood pressure and this can lead to deaths from heart disease and stroke, Frieden said in a statement published this week at the journal JAMA. In the US, there is more than 1,000 high blood pressure-related deaths everyday. He adds that the Food and Drug Adminstration (FDA) has drafted a new sodium consumption guideline to help curb salt intake among consumers.

Mayo Clinic Minute: Less #salt doesn't mean less flavor. @US_FDA #sodium guidelines. https://t.co/RFERwrko3H pic.twitter.com/Zp98nFG37L

— Mayo Clinic (@MayoClinic) June 1, 2016

The draft FDA guideline states that majority of America's salt intake comes from processed foods made by the food industry. Americans allegedly consume 3,400 milligrams of salt everyday, which is more than the recommended 2,300 milligram limit as mandated by health guidelines.

FDA aims to come to an agreement with restaurants, fast food chains and food companies to lower salt levels in their food. Their long term plan is that within a decade, sodium reduction in processef doods will lower American salt intake within the bounds of appropriate sodium levels.

Contradicting Salt Consumption Studies

Bloomberg noted a study published in 2014 that people who consume 3,000 to 6,000 milligrams of salt a day had the lowest death rates caused by heart disease. The outlet also pointed out that low salt intake diet can also be harmful. However, another expert explained that people who are on low-salt diet may be eating less salt because of a pre-existing condition or health problems.

What do you think of the FDA's salt guidelines? Do you think we have too much salt intake and is it harmful to our health? Let us know in the comments below.