What you might not know is, that question has created a veritable storm in a saltshaker, if you will, within the medical community. The role of salt in high blood pressure and heart disease is not as clear as it once seemed, and many experts disagree about the importance of salt intake and current recommendations for salt consumption. It is clear that some groups of patients need to carefully watch salt consumption, but whether the entire population benefits from restriction is uncertain. In addition, newer research has brought to light other factors in blood pressure control which may be even more important than salt.
Some researchers argue that salt restriction has been overemphasized.
But others feel that current recommendations are helpful, and should be continued. Studies show Americans currently average about nine grams of salt a day. Norman Kaplan, MD, is in favor of keeping the current recommendations with an eye towards lowering them in the future. And that even modest reductions in salt intake can lead to modest reductions in blood pressure, leading to health benefits for individuals. These small individual benefits translate into big benefits for society as a whole.