American Heart Association Calls for Salt Reduction

DALLASThe American Heart Association (AHA) is urging Americans to reduce their sodium intake to no more than 1,500 mg of sodium a day because of the harmful effects of sodium, including elevated blood pressure and increased risk of stroke, heart attacks and kidney disease.

AHA also is asking health professionals, the food industry and the government to intensify their efforts to reduce sodium. The association also supports improved food labeling that helps consumers understand how much sodium is in their diet and consumer education in restaurants to help consumers choose lower-sodium options.

AHA said sodium consumption is more than two times higher than the recommended upper limit of 1,500 mg daily, with 77 percent of that consumption coming from packaged, processed and restaurant foods.

Americans deserve the opportunity to choose how much sodium is in the food they eat. By supporting measures that will reduce sodium in the overall food supply, we are giving consumers freedom to select foods that could allow them to meet sodium recommendations and improve their ideal cardiovascular health," said Ralph Sacco, M.D., president of the American Heart Association.