Reducing the daily salt intake could help decline the risk of having heart attack and other heart related problems.

According to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, cutting the daily salt intake by 3 grams or about 1,200 milligrams of sodium could reduce the risk of heart diseases.

Excessive salt intake is associated with high blood pressure or hypertension that damages the arteries.  Damaged arteries could lead to heart disease, stroke and other heart problems.

The U.S Department of Health and Human Services recommends that an adult should limit their daily salt intake to 5.8 grams or about 2,300 milligrams of sodium.  But studies have shown that an American man and woman eat about 4,178 and 2.933 milligrams of sodium per day respectively. The processed foods that Americans eat contain salt that accounts for 75-80% of their salt consumption.  Therefore it is strongly suggested that food manufacturers cut down on the amount of salt they add to processed foods.

Decreasing salt intake is not the only way to reduce the risk of heart diseases.  Proper diet consisting mostly of vegetables and fruits, as well as exercise, reduction in smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages will further decrease the risk of heart diseases.