Do you eat too much salt? You may be eating just the right amount, surprisingly. A new study has found that the average daily sodium intake of most Americans is associated with better health than the levels currently recommended by the CDC.
In order to see how current levels of salt consumption might affect the health of the public, the researchers conducted a meta-analysis. They combined the results of 25 individual studies on health risks associated with sodium intake. In all, the scientists assessed 274,683 people.
In the end, they found that eating between 2,645 and 4,945 mg of sodium per day actually results in a healthier outcome than current CDC recommendations of less than 2,300 mg per day, according to Medical Xpress. This new range actually includes the range in which most Americans fall.
"Our results are in line with the IOM's concern that lower levels could produce harm," said Niels Graudal, one of the researchers, in an interview with Medical News Today. "And they provide a concrete basis for revising the recommended range in the best interest of public health. The good news is that around 95 percent of the global population already consumes within the range we've found to generate the least instances of mortality and cardiovascular disease."
The findings reveal that salt isn't necessarily a bad thing, if consumed in limited amounts. Not only that, but the current recommended daily sodium intake may be incorrect. While it's important not to eat too many salty foods, eating a moderate amount of salt can help with your health. And eating too little salt could negatively impact your health at the end of the day.
The findings were published in the American Journal of Hypertension.
