Recommended sodium intake is 2400 mg or about the same as one teaspoon of salt. But added salt and processed foods have caused the average intake to skyrocket.
Sodium is a mineral that occurs naturally in foods.
It helps maintain fluid balance, regulate blood pressure, transmit nerve impulses and maintain muscle activity. For some people, too much can aggravate blood pressure, so cutting back is a good idea. Check your sodium intake by writing down what you eat each day, note processed foods and salt that you use in seasoning. Change sodium intake by using herbs and spices for seasoning, cooking pasta and rice without salt, reducing salt in cooking, and choosing low-sodium frozen meals. The desire for salt is acquired, so reducing salt will take some time, but the health benefits are worth it.