For a long time, salt (sodium) has been blamed for causing high blood pressure. However, recent research suggests that the truth is much more complex. These studies reveal a “J-shaped association” (non-linear relationship) between sodium intake and heart disease risk. This means both very low and very high salt diets can increase your risk of heart problems. Ideally, keeping your salt intake moderate, where the risk is lowest, is what you should aim for. Surprisingly, excessive salt might not be the main trigger for high blood pressure—added sugars are more likely the true culprit. Cutting salt too much could even harm your heart health by triggering counteractive responses and other issues like insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and obesity.
