Publisher's Synopsis
Low sodium diets have been associated with increased insulin resistance, a condition that causes higher blood sugar and insulin levels. This may lead to type 2 diabetes and other serious diseases.Although the evidence is mixed, some observational studies show that low salt diets are linked to an increased risk of death from heart attacks or strokes. Controlled trials show no clear benefit.There's some evidence that people with heart failure may have a higher risk of dying on a low sodium diet. However, more studies are needed to confirm this.Studies have found that limiting salt may raise LDL (bad) cholesterol and triglycerides, which are common risk factors for heart disease.People with type 1 and type 2 diabetes may have an increased risk of death on a low sodium diet. However, this needs to be studied further.A condition called hyponatremia, or low blood sodium levels, may affect certain people like older adults and some athletes. Eating less salt raises the risk of this condition.The National Academy of Medicine (NAM) recommends a sodium intake of less than 2,300 mg per day, corresponding to 5.8 grams of salt.Studies suggest that there's a J-shaped curve when it comes to the effects of sodium.Too much may be harmful, but too little can also have serious consequences.The lowest risk of health issues and death seems to be somewhere in between.Controversially, some researchers have suggested an intake of 3,000-5,000 mg of sodium per day is considered optimal.This exceeds the maximum daily intake recommended by NAM, but it's similar to what the average person already eats in the United States.This amounts to 7.5-12.5 grams of table salt per day, which equals 1.5-2.5 teaspoons per day (salt is only 40% sodium, so multiply sodium by 2.5 to find the amount of salt).However, many people may benefit from restricted sodium intake, such as those with salt-sensitive high blood pressure.
