There's no Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) set for sodium because there's a very low risk of toxicity. The Chronic Disease Risk Reduction Intake (CDRR) is set at 2,300 mg per day.
At this point, there's no Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) set for sodium because there's very little evidence that sodium causes toxicity in healthy people even at very high doses. Obviously, there are some questions about the connection between high sodium intake and chronic diseases like blood pressure and heart issues, which is why the Chronic Disease Risk Reduction Intake level is set at 2,300 mg per day.
Most Americans get closer to 3,400 mg per day, however. And there's conflicting evidence about whether lowering sodium intake to 2,300 mg or lower per day is beneficial to blood pressure and heart health. Some research shows lowering sodium intake too much can actually have a negative impact.
There are a lot of individual factors that influence how much sodium you need per day too. If you’re extremely active, sweat a lot, or have health issues that cause vomiting or diarrhea, you’re going to need more sodium than the average Joe or Jane.
The quality and source of your sodium are important to think about as well. Getting lots of sodium from processed foods is going to be much worse for you than getting sodium from whole, mineral-rich salt. Here are some resources that can help you understand the healthiest way to incorporate sodium into your diet:
- Article: Rethinking the War on Salt
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Book: Salt Your Way to Health by Dr. David Brownstein
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Book: The Salt Fix - Why the Experts Got It All Wrong--and How Eating More Might Save Your Life by Dr. James DiNicolantonio