Sodium in diet

Alternative names:

diet and sodium (salt)

Recommendations:

Dietary sodium is measured in milligrams. The most common form of sodium used is table salt, which is 40% sodium. One teaspoon of table salt contains 2,300 milligrams of sodium.

The National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences recommends an approximate daily range of 1,100 to 3,300 milligrams of sodium for adults. The American Heart Association recommends that for every 1,000 Calories of food consumed, the sodium intake should be 1,000 milligrams and should not exceed the 3,000 milligram limit. The average intake in the United States is between 4,000 and 5,000 milligrams of sodium per day.

Specific recommendations regarding sodium intake do not exist for infants, children, and adolescents. Eating habits and attitudes about food formed during childhood are likely to influence eating habits for life, and for this reason, moderate intake of sodium is suggested.