The general recommendation for daily sodium intake for most adults is to keep it under 2,300 milligrams (mg) per day, which is about one teaspoon of table salt
. Many health organizations, including the World Health Organization and the American Heart Association, suggest aiming even lower-around 1,500 mg per day- as an ideal limit to reduce the risk of high blood pressure and heart disease
. Key points include:
- The Institute of Medicine recommends about 1,500 mg per day for healthy adults
- The average American consumes about 3,400 mg per day, which is well above recommended limits
- Sodium is essential for bodily functions such as nerve and muscle function and fluid balance, but only small amounts (200-500 mg daily) are needed for basic health
- Certain groups, like athletes or people exposed to heavy sweating, may need more sodium
- Excess sodium mainly comes from packaged, prepared, and restaurant foods rather than salt added at the table
- Some recent research suggests that extremely low sodium intake (below about 1,500 mg) might not benefit everyone and that moderate intake (3,000-5,000 mg) could be associated with the lowest cardiovascular risk, but official guidelines still recommend staying below 2,300 mg for most people
In summary, aiming for less than 2,300 mg of sodium daily is advised, with an ideal target closer to 1,500 mg for most adults to support heart health and reduce disease risk
