How Much is too Much
Experts suggest a maximum salt intake of 6 grams per day for an adult without a family history of blood pressure. If there is a family history then salt may be reduced to 2 gm. per day.
Every day, the average Indian consumes in about 30 grams of salt. That is pretty higher compared to the recommended 6 grams for healthy people by National Institute of Nutrition (NIN), a research organisation under the aegis of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).
The expert committee on dietary guidelines, appointed by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), has recently recommended daily salt dose of 1.1 grams to 3.3 grams. But it should not cross 6 grams per day if Indians want to keep hypertension under check. The previous guidelines of ICMR, released in 1998, had allowed 8 gram of salt intake per day. ICMR recommended reduction in consumption of salt as it poses a great health risk. (Source: www.icmr.nic.in).
| Food | Recommended Upper Daily Limit (g salt) |
| 1�3 yr | 2.5 | 4�8 yr | 4.5 | 9�13yr | 5 | 14�18 yr | 5.75 | Adults | 6 |