Consuming too much sodium put millions of Americans' health at risk. The Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Agriculture recommend that Americans consume less than the maximum limit of 2,300 mg of sodium per day. But on average, U.S. adults consume twice that amount.
According to a report this year published in the New England Journal of Medicine, if the average American decreased their intake of salt by 1,200 mg per day this would result in 11 percent fewer cases of new heart disease, 13 percent fewer heart attacks, 8 percent fewer strokes and 4 percent fewer deaths each year. This could save states billions in annual health care costs and treatment associated with high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.
In this edition of the Buzz at State Legislatures Magazine, we sit down with Ashley DePaulis, a health policy associate at the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) to talk about sodium and what the possible health risks can be for consuming too much. Ashley also explains where our intake of sodium comes from and how sodium awareness has become a policy issue on the state and federal levels.
Listen to Ashley DePaulis' podcast (4:43) on reducing sodium to improve health.
NCSL has additional resources on sodium with a LegisBrief for purchase in NCSL's bookstore, or on our website.
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