Lowering your sodium intake is important to maintaining a healthy heart, but limiting how much salt you add to food can be challenging. According to the American Heart Association, excess levels of dietary sodium (salt) may put you at risk for:
- Enlarged heart muscle
- Headaches
- Kidney disease
- Osteoporosis
- Stroke
- Heart failure
- High blood pressure
- Kidney stones
- Stomach cancer
The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends no more than 2,300 mg of sodium a day and an ideal limit of less than 1,500 mg per day for most adults, especially for those with high blood pressure.1
Here is a detailed infographic from AHA: “Excess Levels of Sodium: How Too Much Sodium Affects Your Health”.
Decreased sodium intake helps reduce blood pressure and risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke and end-stage kidney disease. A principal benefit of lowering sodium intake is a corresponding reduction in high blood pressure.2
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates 1.89 million deaths worldwide each year are associated with consuming too much sodium. Many cardiovascular events and deaths could be prevented if global salt consumption were reduced to the level of approximately 2,000 mg a day for adults recommended by the WHO.3
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes: “February is American Heart Month, a time when all people — especially women — are encouraged to focus on their cardiovascular health…In the United States, heart disease is the leading cause of death for men, women, and people of most racial and ethnic groups. In 2022, 1 in every 5 deaths in the United States was caused by heart disease.”4
Monosodium glutamate (MSG) can be a powerful tool for sodium reduction, boosting flavor in savory foods while providing 2/3 less sodium than table salt. Visit msgfacts.com to learn more about how MSG can be part of your healthy-living toolkit during American Heart Month, and find recipes on our blog at msgdish.com.
References:
- American Heart Association. Why Should I Limit Sodium?
- Appel L et al. The importance of population-wide sodium reduction as a means to prevent cardiovascular disease and stroke: a call to action from the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2011;123:1138–1143.
- World Health Organization. Sodium Reduction. February 7, 2025.
- CDC. American Heart Month. December 30, 2025.
Related Reading:
MSG Promotes Significant Sodium Reduction and Enjoyment of Better-for-you Foods
