FDA Sodium Guidelines

The American Heart Association estimates the average American consumes 3,436 mg of sodium daily. This is much more than the recommended guidelines from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Most sodium in your diet originates from table salt, which is sodium chloride. By being aware of the sodium content of food, you can take steps toward reducing your daily intake and reducing your risk of developing high blood pressure.

Guidelines

The FDA recommends that you consume no more than 2,300 mg of salt per day, as of 2010. This recommendation is for the general public. Those who are black, have hypertension, or are middle-aged or older, should consume no more than 1,500 mg daily, according to the FDA. However, the American Heart Association recommends that everyone should reduce the sodium in their diets to 1,500 mg or less.

Uses

Sodium is used in food as a flavor enhancer. It binds ingredients and acts as a stabilizer. It also plays a role in bodily functions, according to the Medline Plus website. Sodium aids the transmission of nerve impulses, is important in regulating blood pressure and volume, and plays a role in the muscle contraction and relaxation.

Problems

A high-sodium diet has been linked to many health problems. There is a direct relationship between high sodium consumption and high blood pressure, according to the University of North Carolina. High blood pressure increases your risk of developing heart disease and stroke. High salt consumption can also raise your risk of developing kidney stones, osteoporosis and stomach cancer, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Food Labels

Food labels list the total sodium content of food and the daily recommended value. According to the FDA, if a product is labeled "salt free," it contains less than 5 mg of sodium per serving. "Low" sodium products contain less than 140 mg of sodium per serving. If a product contains 25 percent less sodium than the regular version, it's labeled "reduced sodium."

Reducing sodium

Try to reduce your intake of processed foods, which can account for 75 percent of the sodium in your diet. Replace processed foods with fresh meat and produce. Use herbs and spices to enhance the flavor of food instead of salt. Condiments like ketchup, salad dressing and soy sauce contain sodium, so use them sparingly.