​Sodium Reduction Resources

Americans consume on average more than 3,400 milligrams (mg) of sodium each day. Average intakes are generally higher for men than women. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020–2025 recommends limiting sodium intakes to less than 2,300 per day (or less if younger than 14). Most of the sodium Americans eat comes from packaged, processed, store-bought, and restaurant foods. Only a small amount comes from salt added during cooking or at the table. Sodium is the component of salt that affects blood pressure. Our bodies need salt to function, but too much can be harmful. High salt intake is linked to an increase in blood pressure and an increased risk for cardiovascular disease, including heart disease and stroke.

Sodium-Related Resources

American Heart Association - Sodium and Salt

Learn about sodium and high blood pressure, and track your sodium intake.

Center for Science in the Public Interest

Learn about sodium in the food supply and government strategies for reducing sodium in packaged and restaurant foods.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Salt

Find sodium facts, journal articles, training resources, and sodium reduction videos and podcasts.

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans provide advice for making food choices that promote good health, advocating a healthy weight, and helping prevent disease.

Healthy Eating Resources

American Heart Association Sodium Can Be Sneaky Infographic

Download visual tools related to sodium

American Heart Association – Shaking the Salt Habit

Learn how to reduce sodium in your diet by shaking the salt habit.

Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020–2025

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans provides advice on what to eat and drink to meet nutrient needs, promote health, and prevent disease. It is developed and written for a professional audience, including policymakers, healthcare providers, nutrition educators, and Federal nutrition program operators. The U.S. Departments of Agriculture (USDA) and Health and Human Services (HHS) work together to update and release the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (Dietary Guidelines) every five years. Each edition of the Dietary Guidelines reflects the current body of nutrition science. 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Top 10 Sources of Sodium

Learn where sodium hides.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - How to Reduce Sodium

Learn how you can reduce sodium in your diet.

Million Hearts Healthy Eating and Lifestyle Resource Center​

Find hundreds of fresh and heart-healthy recipes for every meal. New Million Hearts® website on physical activity promotes community programs and resources.

United Stated Department of Agriculture – SNAP-Ed Connection

Find facts and information on how to reduce sodium in your diet.

Salt-Related Video

Sneaky SALT

National Sodium Reduction Efforts

 Million Hearts® is a national initiative to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes by 2022.​​​​ Million Hearts® brings together communities, health systems, nonprofit organizations, federal agencies, and private-sector partners from across the country to fight heart disease and stroke. Check out the Million Hearts® 2022 framework and commit with us to carry out the priority actions needed to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes.

In 2016, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released a draft of the first-ever voluntary sodium reduction goals that would set limits on how much sodium should be in certain foods. Visit FDA’s Sodium Reduction page to learn more.

Go to Heart Disease Homepage​​