Researchers of the study found that similar to high sodium diet, low sodium diet is certainly not good for health. For the study researchers followed 28,880 men and women who were over the age 55.
Studies done till now claim that high intake of salt is harmful for health. But too little sodium is almost as bad as too much of it. Results of the study revealed that people who had 4 to 6 grams of sodium on daily basis were at 19 percent greater risk of cardiovascular even and death in comparison to people who had 2 to 3 grams of sodium. In simple words the less salt they consumed the greater was their health risk.
In addition, the participants of the study who were on low salt diet had increased hospitalization and higher risk of death due to heart failure, says researcher of the study.
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has pushed down the daily recommended dose of salt. Present USDA guidelines suggest that:
- People who are older than 51 and others who are suffering from hypertension, diabetes, or chronic kidney disease must reduce their daily sodium intake to less than half a teaspoon.
- The rest of the population at 1 teaspoon .i.e. about 2,300 milligrams of sodium per day. But the findings of this study may call for some serious reconsideration. Till USDA come with new recommendation you must be moderate with your sodium intake and stay away from high sodium content of the processed food. Remember it is the pre-packed food that causes the main trouble.