While the old limit was 2,300mg/day of sodium in an adult's diet, the new CDC proposed guidelines are no more than 1500mg/day.

The best limit is to keep it as low as possible. Buy "no salt added" products; actually compare the amounts of sodium listed on every label you buy. If you buy a can of tomato sauce (almost 900mg) then add NO salt at all to what you're cooking.

Sodium is an important nutrient in our diet, playing a huge role in regulating fluids in the body, important for nerves and muscles. Normally, for a healthy adult, different health organizations place the recommended daily intake is around 1,500 mg(milligrams) to 2,300 mg. Adults who has health conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, kidney problems and so on are encourage to consume sodium at the lower rate of the recommended to not aggravate their conditions but of course people has to consult a physician first for each individual has different needs or reactions to what goes into their system.

Moderation is the key and if possible be aware of the sodium that is in your food when you want to limit your sodium intake. Check labels of food, identify how much is the salt content, sometimes sodium can be termed as MSG(mono sodium glutamate) , Sodium alginate, Sodium nitrate, Disodium phosphate and present in baking soda and baking powder. Processed foods, I think has the largest amount of sodium that we constantly consume so be smart in buying processed food if you cannot really avoid them. Try to slow down on condiments and salting the food after cooking is another way of lowering sodium in your diet. Add herbs and spices to flavor food, it makes food tastier. Importantly, foods like vegetables, meats, poultry, milk and other dairy products and many more natural and fresh foods have salt in them and if one can get used to not adding salt on these items, it can make a big difference in lowering sodium intake.

The old saying "an apple a day keeps the doctor away" should be followed by - And no more than a quarter teaspoon of salt may keep him at bay! The latest recommendation - as little as a gram a day may be enough salt/sodium intake. Salt, it seems can be addictive. It can also be very hamful to some but not to others.

According to "Prescription for Nutritional Healing second edition" - "We need less than 500 milligrams of sodium a day to stay healthy. This is enough to accomplish all the vital functions that sodium performs in the body - helping maintain normal fluid levels, healthy muscle function, and proper acidity (pH) of the blood. Excessive sodium intake can cause fluid to be retained in the tissues, which can lead to hypertension (high blood pressure) and can aggravate many medical disorders, including congestive heart failure, certain forms of kidney disease, and premenstrual syndrome (PMS)."

What's a person to do? LIMIT salt in the preparation of food. Try fresh herbs for seasoning. Avoid processed foods. Read the labels of food you purchase for sodium content. "Lite Salts" available in health food stores and some super markets will help lower actual salt intake.