Higher sodium intake decreases risk of cardiovascular diseases

Salt is commonly viewed as the enemy of a healthy diet. However, liberal use of the salt shaker might actually be more of a cure than a curse when it comes to human health, according to new research.

The study, published Tuesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), followed health trends in 3,681 individuals over a median of almost 8 years, and found that a higher sodium intake was actually associated with a lower incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD), and that the amount of salt consumed had no correlation with hypertension, according to Food Safety News.

"This study might need to be taken with a grain of salt," Dr. Peter Briss of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told the New York Times.

Dr. Ralph Sacco of the University of Miami, president of the American Heart Assn., also criticized the study's design and conclusions, noting that the association would continue to stand by its guideline that Americans should consume no more than 1,500 milligrams of salt per day, well below the current average of about 3,500 mg per day.

He argued that a vast amount of literature supports the current recommendation and that one study is not sufficient to make any changes in the guidelines, Los Angeles Times says.