An excess of salt in the diet contributed to the deaths of 2.3 million people worldwide in 2010. Despite this, 75% of people consume nearly twice the recommended levels.
That was the unsettling findings presented at a recent conference of the American Heart Association (AHA). The World Health Organisation (WHO) has a recommended limit of 2,000 mg of sodium a day and the AHA goes even further recommending only 1,500 mg a day. However, the average global sodium intake based on commercially prepared foods, table salt and soy source added during cooking is nearly 4,000 mg.
Too much sodium in the diet raises blood pressure and high blood pressure is a major contributor to heart disease.
The full story is available on the AHA website.