New Dietary Restrictions: Cut The Salt

WASHINGTON (CBS4) — The government is launching an assault on salt.

It's telling half of the U.S. population to drastically cut their daily salt intake. That warning goes for people who are 51 and older, all African-Americans and anyone suffering from hypertension, diabetes or chronic kidney disease. It recommends reducing daily sodium intake to little more than half a teaspoon.

For everyone else, the government continues to recommend about a teaspoon a day — 2,300 milligrams, or about one-third less than the average person usually consumes.

The recommendation is aimed strongly at the food industry. Most salt intake doesn't come from the shaker on the table. It's hidden in foods such as breads, chicken and pasta.

It has long been known that too much sodium increases the risk of high blood pressure, stroke and other problems.

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