Salt restriction isn't just for kidney patients! According to estimates by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), seven out of 10 Americans should restrict their salt consumption, but very few do. Approximately 145 million adults in the United States are though to be more sensitive to salt, including individuals with high blood pressure, African Americans and people older than 40. 
 
This group should consume no more than two-thirds of a teaspoon of salt each day, for kidney patients it is even less. Unfortunately, only one in 10 people in the targeted group meet the proper sodium guidelines, leaving them at risk for kidney disease, high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke.
 
The CDC suggests people in the United States are eating too many packaged and processed foods, and meals served in restaurants. This makes it difficult to measure salt intake each day.

This article originally appeared in the April 2009 issue of AAKP Diet Tips & Bits.