• Weil Nutrition Corner
  • Meet Dr. Weil
  • Origins
  • Healthy Aging
  • Marketplace
  • Podcasts
  • Accessibility
  • Subscribe
Dr. Weil Logo Dr. Weil Logo Weil™ Andrew Weil, M.D.
  • Health & Wellness
    Health & Wellness
    Body, Mind & Spirit
    • Addiction
    • Allergy & Asthma
    • Autoimmune Disorders
    • Back Pain
    • Bone & Joint
    • Cancer
    • Colds & Flu
    • Dental & Oral
    • Diabetes
    • Disease & Disorders
    • Ears, Nose, & Throat
    • Feet
    • Gastrointestinal
    • Hair, Skin, & Nails
    • Headache
    • Heart
    • Insects & Parasites
    • Liver & Kidney
    • Mental Health
    • Pregnancy & Fertility
    • Respiratory
    • Sexual Health
    • Sleep Issues
    • Stress & Anxiety
    • Vision
    Balanced Living
    • Exercise & Fitness
    • Gardening
    • Healthy Home
    • Healthy Living
    • Meditation & Inspiration
    • Meet Dr. Weil
    • Pets & Pet Care
    • Technology
    • Wellness Therapies
    Health Centers
    • Aging Gracefully
    • Children
    • Condition Care Guide
    • Men
    • Women
  • Diet & Nutrition
    Diet & Nutrition
    Anti-Inflammatory Diet & Pyramid
    Cooking & Cookware
    Diets & Weight Loss
    Food Safety
    Nutrition
    Recipes
  • Vitamins, Supplements & Herbs
    Vitamins, Supplements & Herbs
    Herbs
    Supplements & Remedies
    Vitamins
  • Ask Dr. Weil
  • Blogs
    Blogs
    Bulletins
    Health Tips
    Spontaneous Happiness
  • Mushrooms
  • Sleep
Press "Enter" to search
Dr. Weil Logo Weil™ Andrew Weil, M.D.
  • Health & Wellness
    Health & Wellness
    Body, Mind & Spirit
    • Addiction
    • Allergy & Asthma
    • Autoimmune Disorders
    • Back Pain
    • Bone & Joint
    • Cancer
    • Colds & Flu
    • Dental & Oral
    • Diabetes
    • Disease & Disorders
    • Ears, Nose, & Throat
    • Feet
    • Gastrointestinal
    • Hair, Skin, & Nails
    • Headache
    • Heart
    • Insects & Parasites
    • Liver & Kidney
    • Mental Health
    • Pregnancy & Fertility
    • Respiratory
    • Sexual Health
    • Sleep Issues
    • Stress & Anxiety
    • Vision
    Balanced Living
    • Exercise & Fitness
    • Gardening
    • Healthy Home
    • Healthy Living
    • Meditation & Inspiration
    • Meet Dr. Weil
    • Pets & Pet Care
    • Technology
    • Wellness Therapies
    Health Centers
    • Aging Gracefully
    • Children
    • Condition Care Guide
    • Men
    • Women
  • Diet & Nutrition
    Diet & Nutrition
    Anti-Inflammatory Diet & Pyramid
    Cooking & Cookware
    Diets & Weight Loss
    Food Safety
    Nutrition
    Recipes
  • Vitamins, Supplements & Herbs
    Vitamins, Supplements & Herbs
    Herbs
    Supplements & Remedies
    Vitamins
  • Ask Dr. Weil
  • Blogs
    Blogs
    Bulletins
    Health Tips
    Spontaneous Happiness
  • Mushrooms
  • Sleep
  • Weil Nutrition Corner
  • Meet Dr. Weil
  • Origins
  • Healthy Aging
  • Marketplace
  • Podcasts
  • Accessibility
  1. Home
  2. Diet & Nutrition
  3. Food Safety

Big Salt Shakeout?

I’m very confused by what I’ve heard lately about salt. Is it really OK to consume more than has been recommended in the past, or are we better off cutting back? Can you explain the contradictions?

Andrew Weil, M.D. | July 18, 2017

salt
2 min

You likely read about findings from an investigation at Boston University School of Medicine in which more than 2,600 adults were followed for 16 years to track the effect of a low sodium diet on blood pressure. None of the participants, who were between the ages of 30 and 64, had high blood pressure when they entered the study. However, after the 16 years, those whose daily sodium intake was less than 2,500 mg had higher blood pressure than those whose sodium consumption was higher.

These findings aren’t the first to call into question current recommendations to limit sodium intake to prevent high blood pressure. In November 2014 I wrote about the results of three other studies published at the time that addressed this issue. One found that consuming less than 3,000 mg (3 grams) of sodium daily was associated with higher risks of cardiovascular disease and death; it also showed increased risks in those consuming more than 6,000 mg (6 grams) daily. That study enrolled more than 100,000 people from 17 countries and followed them for more than three years. It showed that low sodium consumption was associated with a 27 percent higher risk of heart attack, stroke and death than seen in participants whose intake was higher. The risks increased again when daily intake topped 6,000 mg.

Two of the three studies concluded that the only individuals who need to cut down on salt are those with high blood pressure and people over 55. However, the third estimated that sodium consumption exceeding 2,000 mg daily contributed to 1.65 million deaths from cardiovascular disease in 2010. We know that sodium consumption is associated with high blood pressure in some – but not all – people and that high blood pressure unquestionably raises the risk for cardiovascular disease.

The newly reported research showed that study participants with higher intakes of potassium, calcium and magnesium had lower blood pressure over the long term. Those whose sodium intake averaged 3,717 mg daily and whose potassium intake averaged 3,211 mg daily had the lowest blood pressure. These latest results have not yet been published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal. They were presented at the American Society for Nutrition Scientific Sessions during the Experimental Biology 2017 meeting April 22-26 in Chicago.

For the record, the World Health Organization, the American Heart Association and other health agencies recommend limiting sodium consumption to between 1,500 and 2,300 mg or less per day. Our minimum need is 1,500 mg. The average daily consumption in the United States is about 3,400 mg. I wouldn’t suggest consuming more sodium on the strength of findings linking higher levels with lower health risks. I do recommend increasing intake of potassium by eating more fruits and vegetables.

Andrew Weil, M.D.

 

Sources:

Lynn L. Moore, “Low Sodium Intakes are Not Associated with Lower Blood Pressure Levels among Framingham Offspring Study.” Presentation, Experimental Biology 2017 meeting April 25, Chicago, IL.

Andrew Mente et al, “Association of Urinary Sodium and Potassium Excretion with Blood Pressure.” New England Journal of Medicine, 2014; 371:601-611

Martin O’Donnell et al, “Urinary Sodium and Potassium Excretion, Mortality, and Cardiovascular Events.” New England Journal of Medicine, 2014; 371:612-623

Dariush Mozaffarian et al, “Global Sodium Consumption and Death from Cardiovascular Causes.” New England Journal of Medicine, 2014; 371:624-634

Read more tips, recipes, and insights on a wide variety of topics from Dr. Weil here.

Hidden High Blood Pressure
Heart

Hidden High Blood Pressure?

can yoga lower blood pressure
Heart

Can Yoga Lower Blood Pressure?

Advertisement
Related Weil Products

Dr. Weil on Healthy Aging - Your Anti-Inflammatory Diet Source

Want to promote overall health and help minimize the risk of inflammatory diseases? Join Dr. Weil on Healthy Aging, your online guide to the anti-inflammatory diet. Start your 14-day free trial now for access to shopping and eating guides, hundreds of recipes, an exclusive version of Dr. Weil’s Anti-Inflammatory Food Pyramid and more!
Get Started
Dr. Weil on Healthy Aging

Start Your 14-Day Free Trial

Free Newsletters

Stay Connected With Dr. Weil

Anti-Inflammatory Diet

Follow Dr. Weil’s Food Pyramid

Get Dr Weils Newsletter Updates

Exclusive Lifestyle, Nutrition & Health Advice

Dr. Weil's FREE health living advice delivered to you!

By clicking "Subscribe," you agree to the DrWeil.com Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. You also agree to receive emails from DrWeil.com, and you may opt out of DrWeil.com subscriptions at any time.

Trending Now

bread loaves
Food Safety

A Carcinogen in Your Bread?

Raw salmon fish steaks with fresh herbs on cutting board
Food Safety

Alaskan Salmon From China?

Buyer chooses minced meat in a store
Food Safety

Ammonia in Ground Beef?

Free range chicken on an organic farm in Austria; Freilandhühner auf einem Bauernhof in Oberösterreich
Food Safety

Antibiotics and Arsenic in Chickens?

Dr. Weil Logo Weil™ Andrew Weil, M.D.
Dr. Weil's Signature

Exclusive Lifestyle, Nutrition & Health Advice

  • About Us
  • Press Information
  • Advertising
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility

Terms of Use | Privacy Policy

Information on this website is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional. You should not use the information on this website for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing any medication or other treatment. Any third party offering or advertising on this website does not constitute an endorsement by Andrew Weil, M.D. or Healthy Lifestyle Brands.

© Copyright 2025 Healthy Lifestyle Brands, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. www.drweil.com