Sodium in Your Diet - Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How much sodium should you take per day if you have high blood pressure?
A: The American Heart Association (AHA) suggests less than 1500 mg of dietary sodium per day to manage high blood pressure (hypertension).
Q: How much salt is considered healthy per day for a woman?
A: For healthy adults, up to 1 teaspoon of salt per day can be used to meet the sodium recommendations.
Q: What happens if you eat too much sodium?
A: Excess intake of sodium may increase the risk of hypertension, heart disease, kidney disease, low bone density, and stomach cancer.
Q: Do you need salt in your diet?
A: Salt is an important taste enhancer, and limited usage of salt is advisable. However, it is important to keep track of other food sources of sodium in order to keep sodium consumption in check.
Q: How to get more sodium in your diet?
A: The normal sodium recommendation can be met by consuming foods naturally containing sodium, like eggs, milk, yogurt, dried peas, beans, bread, fresh fruits, and vegetables.
Q: What happens if you don't eat enough sodium?
A: Low levels of sodium may lead to hyponatremia, characterized by symptoms such as vomiting, nausea, confusion, headache, low energy, fatigue, irritability, muscle spasms, and cramps.
