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Health Effects of Too Much Sodium in Your Diet

By February 19, 2024May 29th, 2024Featured, In the News
Less salt - use MSG as salt alternative

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 to 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) states an estimated 2.5 million deaths worldwide could be prevented each year if global salt consumption were reduced to the WHO recommended level of approximately 2,000 mg a day.3

American Heart MonthThe 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. This Heart Month, the Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention (DHDSP) is encouraging women to listen to their hearts and speak up for their health. Women in the United States are experiencing unacceptable and avoidable heart-related illness and death. Over half of US women do not recognize that heart disease is the leading cause of death for women.”4

 

References:

  1. American Heart Association. Why Should I Limit Sodium?
  2. 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.
  3. World Health Organization. Sodium Reduction. September 14, 2023.
  4. CDC. American Heart Month. February 16, 2024.


Related Reading:

Can Umami Be a Useful Tool for Reducing Sodium in Meals?

MSG Promotes Significant Sodium Reduction and Enjoyment of Better-for-you Foods

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The MSGdish Team's goal is to provide timely and important information about glutamate, monosodium glutamate (MSG) and the many culinary creations inspired by “umami" while connecting these topics to facts about food, taste, and health. The MSGdish Team is comprised of TGA staff professionals who are recognized as experts in science-based nutrition communications. Read more on the About page.

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