Should You Eat More or Less Salt?...the analysis revealed that both high and low sodium intake were linked to heart risks. Compared with those who got 4,000 to 6,000 milligrams of sodium per day, people who consumed more than 7,000 milligrams were more likely to have a heart attack or other heart event. However, those who took in less than 3,000 milligrams per day were more likely to die of heart disease or be hospitalized with heart failure.
"We're seeing more and more that there may be an optimal moderate amount of salt that people should be eating," Mente says.
In another paper, published in the American Journal of Hypertension and The Cochrane Library, researchers analyzed 167 existing studies in which people were asked to follow either a low-sodium or high-sodium diet.
The results did indicate that low-sodium diets decreased blood pressure. Systolic blood pressure—the top number—decreased by 1 percent in people with normal blood pressure and 3.5 percent in people with high blood pressure. But at the same time, eating less salt increased cholesterol by 2.5 percent and triglycerides (fat in the bloodstream) by 7 percent, and also boosted levels of certain hormones that could harm the heart over time.
The bottom line:
The studies reinforce that, as is the case with most nutrients our bodies need, there is a fine line between too little salt and too much. Ongoing research will continue to search for the best balance. "We are going to continue to hear conflicting advice about sodium for years to come. Each new study will bring a twist to the unfolding story," .....Avoid the extremes. If you're getting more than 7,000 to 12,000 milligrams of salt per day or you already have hypertension, you may want to cut back. In contrast, if you have heart disease or diabetes and are on a low-sodium diet, you may actually want to consider eating more salt, Graudal says. The following test can help you determine whether you should.
