Health — New Information on Sodium Intake

You know how, from time to time, nutritionist will decide that things they thought were good for you are now bad for you, or the other way around?

Well, there is a new study out that really has healthcare folks upset.

According to a surprising new report released by the Institute of Medicine yesterday, cutting back on salt may not be such a good thing. The study said that overall, the nation needs to cut back on sodium for better heart health. But it also concluded that there’s no good evidence that eating super-low levels offers any benefits. There are also some hints that eating the lowest levels might actually harm certain people who already have a serious illness. The study urged more research to find the best target range for sodium intake. The average American consumes more than 3,400 mg of sodium a day, while current U.S. dietary guidelines say most people should eat 2,300 mg a day. The American Heart Association, meanwhile, stood by its own recommendations (which are stricter than the government's) that everyone should eat no more than 1,500 mg of sodium daily.

If you have a high blood pressure and your doctor has told you to cut way back on sodium, please don't take this article as an "all clear" on the salt shaker. I have high blood pressure and I assure you I'm not going to start using more salt. As with all new studies, you've got to take these results with a grai ...NO, I can't say it!