Cut Salt to Save Upto Half a Million Lives

Reducing the intake of salt  can save up to half a million American lives, says a new study.

Heart disease is among the leading causes of death in the U.S. population. This can be avoided by gradually reducing the intake of salt in the food we buy and eat, as salt is the primary source of sodium. It is well known that sodium contributes to high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.

Less salt would save upto 280,000 to 500,000 lives over 10 years. According to the report, Americans consume about 3,600 milligrams of sodium a day that is 40 percent more when compared to what is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention i.e.. 1,500 mg/day.  

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention brought together three groups of scientists to conduct this study. With the help of computer models and simulations they estimated how steady annual reduction in the intake of salt can save our lives,

They found that by gradually reducing the intake of sodium by 40 percent to about 2,200 mg/day over 10 years could save thousands of lives.

"The idea is individuals can't make this choice easily, so maybe we should find ways to work with the food industry," said  Kirstin Bibbins-Domingo, associate professor of medicine and epidemiology at the University of California at San Francisco to ABCNews.com.

Excess intake of salt triggers high blood pressure, heart attacks, and other cardiovascular diseases.  The researchers hope that this study improves people's unhealthy eating habits.

The study was published in the American Heart Association journal Hypertension.