44-63 percent, or 380,000-550,000, fewer hypertensive young people aged 12-24 years 30-43 percent, or 2,700,000?” ,900,000, fewer hypertensive adults aged 35-50 years 7-12 percent, or 120,000-210,000, fewer incidents of coronary heart disease 8-14 percent, or 36,000-64,000, fewer heart attacks 5-8 percent, or 16,000-28,000, fewer strokes 5-9 percent, or 69,000-120,000, fewer deaths of any cause as teenagers reach age 50

Salt consumption among Americans has risen by 50 percent since the 1970s, according to the American Heart Association, and blood pressure has risen by nearly the same amount-despite extensive evidence linking salt intake to high blood pressure and heart disease.

In addition to its independent benefits on blood pressure, reducing salt intake can enhance the effects of most anti-hypertensive (blood pressure lowering) agents and reduce complications associated with diabetes, obesity and kidney disease, the researchers added.

According to federal government data, the average teenage boy consumes more than 10 grams of salt (4,000 mg sodium) daily. Most health organizations recommend far lower targets-no more than 5.8 grams of salt per day (2,300 mg sodium) and less than 3.8 grams (1,500 mg sodium) is optimal. Each gram of salt contains 0.4 grams of sodium.

Source: University of California - San Francisco