Americans are told to reduce sodium and increase potassium intake

Almost all Americans and Canadians consume too much salt and not enough potassium, increasing their risk of high blood pressure, stroke, coronary artery disease, and kidney disease, a report from the US Institute of Medicine says. The report was based on a comprehensive review of the scientific literature and was sponsored by a number of US and Canadian governmental organisations and foundations.

The report says unequivocally that blood pressure rises progressively as sodium intake increases. About 25% of Americans have high blood pressure, and more than half of people aged over 60 do.

Healthy adults aged between 19 and 50 years should consume 1.5 g of sodium (equivalent to 3.8 g of salt) a day to replace losses through perspiration but should not exceed 2.3 g (5.8 g of …